🏘️ Open House Tips for Home Buyers

Make sure the time you spend at an open house is purposeful. Go prepared with an open mind and a note app open on your phone for recording questions that come to mind during the visit.

You’ll hear the term open house used when a business or private residence opens to the public for tours or viewing. Open houses are popular among new businesses and home sellers. 

A real estate agent can save you valuable time when it comes to finding a home that meets your needs. Rather than waste time looking at houses that don’t match your search criteria, a real estate agent can present homes with open houses that closely match your wish list.

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We suggest that you take a bit of time to learn more about the property by checking their listing details. In most cases, you’ll be able to see photos or take a virtual tour before the open house date.

Don’t let your emotions take the wheel when you visit a home that seems to have everything you’re looking for in a property. An emotional connection can cause you to miss warning signs that could be costly down the road.

TIP: Let your real estate agent know you are interested instead of sharing that information with the seller or their agent. Doing this could be beneficial when it comes to negotiations.

We know how incredible some of the homes can be, but there are times when a serious love connection is made between a buyer and a property. You should still be cautious when showing interest.

Don’t wear your financial or buying situation on your sleeve for everyone at the open house to view. Watch what you say to the people who are with you that might give the seller’s agent information to use in future negotiations.

The seller’s agent is there to help sell the property, and you are there to look around and ask questions. Allow your real estate agent to do the talking and ask the questions to lessen the chance that details will be revealed accidentally.

Take notes on the things you like about the home, items you want to be included in the deal, and questions that come to mind during the tour. It’s a good idea to take photos to help you remember special features. This can be especially helpful if you are going to more than one open house in a weekend.

What should I look at during the open house?

Check the exterior of the home and property. Look for problems with the roof, land, siding, outside buildings, and other exterior features.

• How does the exterior paint look?
• Is the exterior in good shape?
• Are there shingles missing from the roof?
• Do you see any dead trees nearby?
• Are there visible cracks in the foundation?

While inside the home, check the following things that often escape attention.

• Do the drawers stick when sliding?
• Do the closets have shelves?
• Does the toilet flush easily or run longer than needed?
• Do the doors stick or close unevenly?
• Can you feel air coming from windows?
• Are there signs of leaks under the sinks?

As much as you may be tempted to interact with the seller directly, let your real estate agent ask the questions. Your agent has the experience needed to present questions in a way that gets the right answers without revealing too much.

• How long they have lived in the home?
• How long the home has been on the market?
• Why they are selling the home?
• Are any problems with the property or the house?
• Have they lowered the listing price?
• Has the home recently been re-listed? If so, why?