Attending open houses is a great way to get a feel for different properties, neighborhoods and the real estate market without a lot of pressure. If you’re gearing up for a home search or in the midst of one, here are a few benefits, tips and etiquette you should keep in mind when attending your next open house. 

BENEFITS OF VISITING OPEN HOUSES

Get a better sense of what you can expect in your price range 
If you have your heart set on a specific neighborhood or location, attending open houses in your desired area will give you a better sense how much you’ll need to spend to be in that location. You might find that you’re willing to sacrifice amenities to be in a specific location within your price range, or vice versa. This eventual realization will help you narrow down your search to specific neighborhoods so you’re not driving or looking all over the place in search of your next home. 

Narrow down exactly what you want
A lot of buyers have specific ideas of what they’re looking for before they begin their house hunt, but over time their wishlist evolves. Whether you have an open mind or have very specific criteria, there’s nothing more helpful than actually being inside of a property to determine if the criteria is a deal breaker or not. Every property is different and there is nothing that compares to actually stepping foot inside to see how they differ.  

You’re less likely to have FOMO (fear of missing out) or buyer’s remorse
If you do your homework ahead of time by attending open houses and continuously refining your wish list, you’ll be able to jump quickly and confidently on the right property when the time comes. If you see enough properties in person, you’ll know you’ve explored enough options and be less likely to regret your purchase. 

Take your virtual search offline
99% of home buyers find their house online, but there’s nothing better to get the feel of a property and neighborhood than by visiting. It’s great to use the internet as a search tool, but it isn’t a replacement for seeing something in person - photos can be deceiving! After viewing some homes, you may find you can live with less space or you may need to bump up your square footage requirements, or you can sacrifice on some attributes but not others and so forth. 

Get to know the neighborhood 
This is especially important if you’re looking to live somewhere you haven’t lived before - there’s no better way to check out a new neighborhood than to attend open houses in one and spend some time in the area before or after. While you’re there, ask your agent to give you their insights on the area. Amenities, transportation options, restaurants, shops, entertainment, outdoor activities - what’s important to you? Does the neighborhood offer it? Real estate agents legally can’t discuss safety of a neighborhood due to fair housing concerns, but you can easily research crime statistics online. We always recommend if buyers are questioning the neighborhood that they visit at night and get a sense of how it feels. 

ETIQUETTE AND TIPS FOR VIEWING OPEN HOUSES

When and how long you stay will work to your advantage
Arriving early can give you a chance to see the property without a crowd. If its a property you really love, lingering around or returning to see what kind of attendance there is may be helpful in determining whether or not it will be a competitive offer situation. 

Sign in. Yes, it’s required.
Open houses will have a sign-in sheet to help the seller’s agent keep tabs on how many guests have been through the property and add a layer of security for the seller and seller’s agent. Think about it from the seller’s perspective - if someone isn’t interested enough in your home or sincere enough to sign in, why would you want them in your home? This is especially important if the seller is still occupying the property. If you are working with an agent, and they are there have them sign in for you. If your agent isn't there, be sure to tell the listing agent who’s hosting the open house your agent’s name so they can follow up with your agent directly. 

Agent disclosures
The real estate agent at the property more than likely represents the seller. (On occasion the seller's agent will have another agent cover for them that doesn't represent the seller...) That said, it’s not in your best interest to work with an agent who is obligated to work for the financial best interests of someone other than you. It’s always best to work with a dedicated buyer’s agent who can act as your fiduciary - meaning they will have your financial best interest in mind. It’s not that you don’t want to trust the seller’s agent, it’s just best not to work with them. 

Document with notes, photos and video
Document features you like or dislike about the property to help you remember later. Some buyers we’ve worked with come with spreadsheets and others want to go back because they missed a few details. It’s all personal preference, but typically documentation really does help. 

Observe all the details  
Homes with staging sell for more money and less days on market and its no surprise - they look magazine worthy! Look beyond the staging or seller’s furniture and observe the true condition of the home, including windows, floors, and any signs of damage.

Ask all the questions
Not everything is visible when you view the property. Ask the listing agent about the mechanicals, the last time any updates were made, if there are any seller disclosures, exclusions, the age of the roof, if they know what the seller’s liked about living there, and so on. The more you know about the property the more of an informed decision you will make. 

Don’t test the toilet plumbing unless it’s a true emergency
Turn on the shower or turn on the sink to test water pressure but save the big toilet flush test for the home inspection. Also, there may or may not be toilet paper available. Haha! In all seriousness, it is a bit gauche to use the bathroom. 

Wear easy to remove shoes
Whether the floors have just been refinished, it's snowy, rainy or muddy out or the seller has a no shoes policy, some properties may ask you to remove your shoes at the door. Sometimes they will provide shoe covers, but not always. It can be cramped or awkward at the entrance, especially if it's a busy open house. It's always best to wear easier to remove shoes just in case.  

AFTER THE OPEN HOUSE

Review Your Notes
Compare your observations with your list of must-haves and talk it through with your shopping partner, if you have one. 

Reflect on Your Priorities
Consider how the property fits into your long-term goals and lifestyle. Maybe this is a starter home that you’ll live in a few years before renting or you’re looking for your forever home. Can you live with the home for that amount of time? Is this home fitting into your 5, 10 or 20 year plan? Is it a wise investment? 

Debrief with your agent
Share your overall thoughts with your agent. It will help them gain a better understanding of your likes and dislikes and better enable them to help you pick out properties to view in the future. If you’re interested in putting an offer in, let them know so they can find out if there are any offer deadlines, begin preparing the offer and have time to walk you through it - especially if it’s the first offer you’re putting in or its been a while. 

QUESTIONS TO ASK AT AN OPEN HOUSE 

Here are some questions to think about and have answered when you attend open houses - or any house showings for that matter: 

• How many bedrooms/bathrooms do you need?
• Do you need a bonus/flex space or home office?
• What type of layout do you prefer? Open? Separate spaces? 
• Square footage preference
• What closet space is preferred?
• How updated do you want the home to be? How much work are you willing to do? 
• Ask the listing agent if they can tell you the average age of major appliances and systems - some of the visible big ticket items include the roof, water heater, heating system, electrical service.  
• Take note of the heating type. Do you want air conditioning or are window units OK? 
• How close do you want to be to work/nearby conveniences?
• What type of neighborhood amenities are you looking for? 
• Do you need parking? If there is none at the property, is there a parking sticker required or any rental parking nearby? 

Attending open houses is the best and easiest way to see what’s on the market and help you refine your preferences. Buying a home is a huge decision and commitment - you should use every opportunity you can to find the right one! If you need further assistance with the home buying process, feel free to reach out to your buyer’s agent. Or, if you don’t have a buyer’s agent lined up, reach out to us - we love nothing more than helping our clients navigate their home buying search to find their place in the world!