1. Make It Clear If You Have an Agent
Most of the time when you walk into an open house, you’ll be greeted by the seller’s agent. It’s perfectly fine to tour a home if you don’t already have an agent, but if you do, you should let it be known from the get-go.
The reasoning for this? Agent commission. If more than one agent assists the sale of the home, they might each expect a commission to their respected brokerages.
2. Make Sure Your Own Agent Attends the Follow-Up
Similar to the point above, if you have your own agent, don’t accept a follow-up viewing from the seller’s agent. Unless you’ve change your mind about your initial agent, it can cause the buyer’s and seller’s agent to step on each other’s toes.
And remember, some states require you to sign a binding contract when you start working with an agent that says if you end up buying the home from someone else, the initial agent will get the commissions.
3. You Can Spend as Much Time as You Need
There are many different kinds of host agents—some guide you through room by room, while others welcome guests from the porch allowing you to roam on your own.
While an agent-guided tour is a great way to get answers about the home and to hear about any distinguishing features, don’t feel like you have to leave after you’ve seen each room once. If there’s something you wanted to get another look at, or if you have more questions, feel free to stay a bit longer.
4. Don’t Go Into Off-Limit Areas
As much as you want to see every inch of your potential new home, respect the seller’s privacy if some rooms or storage compartments are private.
Remember, it’s just for the time being, and if you’re really interested in the home you can schedule a follow-up where you can request to see more.
5. Book a Private Tour for Another Look
You can (and should) bring a tape measure along with you, but if you need to take precise measurements of every nook and cranny you’re better off booking a separate tour with your agent. This way, you’ll have more privacy to get the information you need, and you won’t have to work around other potential buyers who are at the open house.
6. Keep Track of Major Stats
Remembering important details about a home, especially if you’ve been to a handful of open houses, can be difficult. Make some notes on your phone or a notebook and jot down the basics, like number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, and any amenities.
7. Dress Appropriately
While you probably shouldn’t show up in your gardening clothes, it’s not a fashion show, either. You don’t have to dress to impress—just show up in comfortable but appropriate attire, so you appear as both an approachable and serious potential buyer.
8. Ask Before Taking Pictures
Although an open house is definitely a showcase, it’s still someone’s private residence. Before whipping out the camera, ask the host agent if it’s okay to snap pictures or record video.
If it’s a go, this is something you should definitely do. It helps to review the pictures of each home you visit when you’re back in your own residence so you can visualize how your current furniture and decor can fit in.
9. Don’t Rummage Around
Although it’s totally reasonable to peek behind cabinets and doors to check out the storage space, make sure you don’t move around the seller’s belongings or sift through drawers. It’s not your home yet!
10. What Sets the Home Apart?
Even if you take notes of the major stats, you should always give the house a nickname or write some words that set it apart from others. If you look down at a list of three-bedroom homes you saw, it might be difficult to remember which was which.
Did one of them have an awesome sun room or an awesome built-in bookshelf? Make notes of the quirks that make the home unique, and also keep a likes and dislikes list.
11. “Feel Before You Sit”
This is a phrase many agents have on deck ready to tell their clients before they show a home. Believe it or not, some homes are staged with fake furniture! So before you plop down on the couch or bed, think again—it could be an air mattress.
12. Ask Away, but Don’t Give Too Many Details
While you should certainly get answers to all the questions you have about the home, such as when it was built or if there have been any recent remodels, make sure you’re not divulging too much about yourself and your current situation.
If the host agent is the seller’s agent, they’re doing everything they can to cater to the seller’s best interest, including the price. If you let the agent know that
13. Get the Inside Scoop on the Neighborhood
You should definitely take a drive around the immediate area to familiarize yourself with nearby grocery stores and parks, but you can also get some insight from the host agent. You can ask about the schools in the district, or even what the current real estate market is like in the area.
14. Hold Your Tongue When It Comes to Criticism
Unless you’re walking through your absolute dream hope (which would be awesome), chances are there’s going to be a few things about the home that you’re not totally crazy about. Whether it’s something that comes with the home, like kitchen appliance style, or something more personal to the seller, like home decor, make sure you hold off on your comments until you leave.
If the seller is present, the last thing you want is for them to hear you badmouthing their home. It could make a difference if they’re trying to choose between you and another seller in the end. This doesn’t mean not to voice your concern when it comes to potential remodels or questions you may have, just make sure it’s appropriate conversation.
