{"id":293,"date":"2015-01-14T00:13:42","date_gmt":"2015-01-14T00:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/foundation\/?p=293"},"modified":"2015-01-14T00:13:42","modified_gmt":"2015-01-14T00:13:42","slug":"open-house-survival-tips-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/open-house-survival-tips-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Open House Survival Tips You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Make It Clear If You Have an Agent<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Marc Wathieu<\/div>\n

Most of the time when you walk into an open house, you\u2019ll be greeted by the seller\u2019s agent. It\u2019s perfectly fine to tour a home if you don\u2019t already have an agent, but if you do, you should let it be known from the get-go.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

2. Make Sure Your Own Agent Attends the Follow-Up<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Mark Moz<\/div>\n

Similar to the point above, if you have your own agent, don\u2019t accept a follow-up viewing from the seller\u2019s agent. Unless you’ve change your mind about your initial agent, it can cause the buyer\u2019s and seller\u2019s agent to step on each other\u2019s toes.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

3. You Can Spend as Much Time as You Need<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Sean MacEntee<\/div>\n

There are many different kinds of host agents\u2014some guide you through room by room, while others welcome guests from the porch allowing you to roam on your own.<\/p>\n

While an agent-guided tour is a great way to get answers about the home and to hear about any distinguishing features, don\u2019t feel like you have to leave after you’ve seen each room once. If there\u2019s something you wanted to get another look at, or if you have more questions, feel free to stay a bit longer.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t Go Into Off-Limit Areas<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Mike Stimpson<\/div>\n

As much as you want to see every inch of your potential new home, respect the seller\u2019s privacy if some rooms or storage compartments are private.<\/p>\n

Remember, it\u2019s just for the time being, and if you\u2019re really interested in the home you can schedule a follow-up where you can request to see more.<\/p>\n

5. Book a\u00a0Private Tour for Another Look<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Rina Pitucci<\/div>\n

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\u2019re better off booking a separate tour with your agent. This way, you\u2019ll have more privacy to get the information you need, and you won\u2019t have to work around other potential buyers who are at the open house.<\/p>\n

6. Keep Track of Major Stats<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Daniel Foster<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

7. Dress Appropriately<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Katrina<\/div>\n

While you probably shouldn’t show up in your gardening clothes, it\u2019s not a fashion show, either. You don\u2019t have to dress to impress\u2014just show up in comfortable but appropriate attire, so you appear as both an approachable and serious potential buyer.<\/p>\n

8. Ask Before Taking Pictures<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Ted Fu<\/div>\n

Although an open house is definitely a showcase, it\u2019s still someone\u2019s private residence. Before whipping out the camera, ask the host agent if it\u2019s okay to snap pictures or record video.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s a go, this is something you should definitely do. It helps to review the pictures of each home you visit when you\u2019re back in your own residence so you can visualize how your current furniture and decor can fit in.<\/p>\n

9. Don\u2019t Rummage Around<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Wu Bomei<\/div>\n

Although it\u2019s totally reasonable to peek behind cabinets and doors to check out the storage space, make sure you don\u2019t move around the seller\u2019s belongings or sift through drawers. It\u2019s not your home yet!<\/p>\n

10. What Sets the Home Apart?<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Philip Fibiger<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

11. \u201cFeel Before You Sit\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Beestface<\/div>\n

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\u2014it could be an air mattress.<\/p>\n

12. Ask Away, but Don\u2019t Give Too Many Details<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user a_kep<\/div>\n

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\u2019re not divulging too much about yourself and your current situation.<\/p>\n

If the host agent is the seller\u2019s agent, they\u2019re doing everything they can to cater to the seller\u2019s best interest, including the price. If you let the agent know that<\/p>\n

13. Get the Inside Scoop\u00a0on the Neighborhood<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user Paul Krueger<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

14. Hold Your Tongue When It Comes to Criticism<\/h2>\n

\"14<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr user (cup)cake_eater<\/div>\n

Unless you\u2019re walking through your absolute dream hope (which would be awesome), chances are there\u2019s going to be a few things about the home that you\u2019re not totally crazy about. Whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re 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\u2019s appropriate conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1. Make It Clear If You Have an Agent Source: Flickr user Marc Wathieu Most of the time when you walk into an open house, you\u2019ll be greeted by the seller\u2019s agent. It\u2019s perfectly fine to tour a home if you don\u2019t 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 Source: Flickr user Mark Moz […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[167],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basics","post--single"],"yoast_head":"\n14 Open House Survival Tips You Need to Know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to totally nail a tour of your dream home.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/open-house-survival-tips-you-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"14 Open House Survival Tips You Need 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