Attending an open house is a great way to get a feel for a property you may be considering buying. It is also a good way to find new options for houses that you haven’t seen advertised before. When you are in the market for a new home, you should attend open houses in Houston to look at properties in the neighborhoods where you wish to live.
Open House Etiquette
In a hot buyers’ housing market, you can make a lot of demands about the closing costs, the down payment and any necessary repair costs, but you shouldn’t be demanding when attending an open house. This is a time for you to browse the homes you are considering or those that your real estate agent has chosen for you to examine.
When you do attend open houses, you should follow these rules of etiquette.
Don’t Rush
If you plan to look at homes during the weekend like on a Sunday, allow yourself an entire afternoon to look at the homes you are considering. Don’t rush through the houses on your list as you could miss getting critical information about the house. Take your time, look through each room and try to imagine your furnishings and family in each home.
Be Comfortable
An open house isn’t for showing off your Sunday best, so, if you are attending one after church, take the time to go home and change your clothes. You will be going up and down stairs, looking through rooms and maybe even walking out into the backyard. Wear appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes to avoid cutting your search time short because your feet are tired.
Focus on the Property
If the seller’s agent is prepared, you will be given a fact sheet on the house. It should include the size of the house, including the number of the bathrooms and bedrooms. Use the time to check off the must haves on your list and note what is missing that you want in your new home. Be polite to the agent and the others going through the house, but your focus should stay on the house.
Look, but Don’t Touch
Remember that many homes being shown during open houses are still occupied by the current homeowners. Look through each room, take any measurements you deem necessary and check for possible repairs, but do not go through the owner’s private property. While many homes are staged to make them more attractive to buyers, some will still contain most of the owner’s property and you should be considerate with their belongings.
An open house is a good time to briefly inspect a new potential home, but you should be considerate when attending one.
