So you're thinking about buying a home? Once you've gone to a lender for your pre-approval and touched base with someone on our team about purchasing, it may be a great idea to start attending Open Houses. Don't worry, it'll be fun! For home buyers, there's only so much information you can gleam from an online listing and a virtual tour, no matter how many photos you see and how brilliant the description seems. You can't get a feel for how tight corners are, the layout of the space, the warm and cold spots as you walk through the house, the feel of the neighborhood, and so much more! Your agent will only want to take you on showings for properties they know 100% that you have the purchasing power for, and that's how it should be. Saturday and Sunday Open Houses are for everything else! Want some decorating ideas? 💡 Open House! Want to see more of a neighborhood? 💡 Open House! Want to see what homes in your own neighborhood are selling for? 💡 Open House! Want to check out a home you've seen on the market, but don't want to disturb your agent? 💡 Open House! As fun as it may be to drive around checking out homes, there are still some basic etiquette rules you should follow. • Remember that an agent will be present and they've given up their time to open the home for you. Be polite, but be honest - if you're already working with an agent, let them know. If you're just out cruising, let them know. They'll appreciate your honesty more than anything. • Sign In if asked. In many instances, the agent at the open house will ask you to sign in before looking around. Go ahead! It's usually a precaution for the agent's safety as well as a security measure for the seller. If you don't wish to be contacted, make that clear to the agent. Most will respect your wishes. • Keep your children close. I'm a firm believer in keeping my family with me, even when y kids were younger. Just remember that you're in someone else's home. Don't open the door and turn them lose. • Consider that you will likely be on video or voice recording. With the modernization of technology, many home owners are adding video and audio to the security of their home, which means you may be on camera. Don't trash talk a home while you're in it, no matter how strongly your opinions! • Feel free to snack. Many agents who man an open house will bring snacks and/or drinks for their guests to enjoy. Indulge! If at any time you're interested in knowing what homes are open during a weekend time, our agents can make that information available to you every Friday for free! Our comprehensive list of Open Houses include homes from all brokerages, in all neighborhoods and price ranges. Go ahead, spend the day out and about, enjoying the home search process. If you come across a home you're more than slightly interested in, give your real estate professional a shout and we'll take you back for a personal tour to discuss your buying options! |