Buyer’s Field Guide to Open Houses

Spring is here! The birds are chirping, the daffodils are blooming and it’s a popular home-buying season. Open Houses are being held everywhere to give buyers an opportunity to view homes for sale, tour the surroundings & community and find that perfect dream home.

Here’s a brief Guideline to Open Houses that will ensure that you have a pleasant house-hunting experience.

	Have a Game Plan. If you’re giving up an hour on a Sunday, you might as well set aside the entire afternoon. Research properties you want to see by visiting Prudential Verani’s Open House listings and schedule your day so that you can navigate through Open Houses in one area and be able to move on to the next area. Allow yourself enough time to see each home and be able to travel on to the next one.
	Wear a Comfortable Outfit. It’s not a fashion show, so leave the Armani suit and Jimmy Choos at home. Plus you’re going to do a lot of walking through rooms and climbing up & down stairs, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Sneakers may be the best way to go!
	Sign in upon Arrival. As a courtesy to the homeowner, don’t hesitate to sign in and let them know who was there. Sellers may have spent hours preparing and cleaning prior to their Open House and they’d be curious to know who visited their home. It’s also considered a safety factor for the agent holding the Open House and to be able to follow up to ask for your feedback on the property. Feel free to let an agent know your comments so they can communicate them to the Seller – it’s OK to say if the home did not suit your criteria and for whatever reasons.
	Advise the Host if You are Working with an Agent. If you are already working with an agent, it is best to disclose that information to the agent holding the Open House. It is not only courteous but it also lets them know in the event you like the property that they may be hearing from your agent. If you are not working with an agent, it is in your best interest to do so. Refer to our “Working with an agent” section for Buyers.
	Focus on the Property. Prepared agents will most likely have a property description handout that will tell you specifics and features of the home such as square footage, age of the roof, what items get sold with the home and more. Use it to take notes or bring a checklist sheet of what you want and don’t want in a home – this will make it easier for you to remember what each property had by the time you get home and discuss your day over dinner.
	Always Ask For Permission to Take Photos. If you feel the need to take a photo or video, ask the agent if it is acceptable. In most cases, this is a private residence and the homeowners may find it uncomfortable. Additionally, the agent may have already posted on their website lots of photos, a visual tour and more that will give you another inside and outside glimpse.
	Visualize Where Your Furniture Will Go. Although some homes may be empty, try to picture where the dining room cabinet or master bedroom bureau or the pool table will either fit or be placed. Sometimes it is not easy to overlook the Seller’s furniture, but it will help you determine if the design and flow of the home will match your desires and needs.
	Ask Probing Questions. Find out answers that are of importance to you. Questions like: Are there any special assessments? What are the condo fees? Are the taxes current? Does the community have any covenants? Sometimes the Open House agent is filling in for the actual listing agent and may have to get back to you, so try not to get frustrated.

And Have Fun! Enjoy exploring, searching and finding the home of your dreams. Buying a home is typically one’s biggest investment decision to make and owning a home will hopefully be your biggest return on equity. The combination of having lots of information available today at your fingertips on the internet and with the guidance of a skilled real estate agent to streamline the buying process, you will be assured to locate your ‘home sweet home’.

When the stakes are high, it’s comforting to have a expert by your side. After all, no one knows NH real estate like we do. Call 1-888-723-0306 and we’ll connect you to a Prudential Verani real estate specialist today!