Open houses are a common scene in the real estate world, offering potential homeowners an easy glimpse into for-sale homes that catch their attention.
Don’t worry about feeling like a “snoop”. Open houses are open for a reason and listing agents are eager for potential buyers to visit. Here are the top 3 benefits of going to open houses:
Get To Know The Neighborhood
The location of a home has a huge influence on a buyer’s purchasing decision, the price of the home, and potential resale. When you go to an open house, drive around the neighborhood. Does it look maintained? Is in an area that meets your needs, such as shopping, schools, and easy access to your place of work?
Go Behind The Scenes
What you see is not always what you get. Homes that look perfect in pictures may not hold up in real life. Listing photos should look good, yes, but they should not be misleading!
Going to open houses gives you the chance to see homes for yourself and find out just how big that kitchen really is and if that is just a shadow on the ceiling or a water stain. If you are serious about the home, open houses will give you the opportunity to make a list of obvious repairs and changes.
Meet Realtors In Your Area
If you have not yet found a Realtor or agent to work with in your search for a home, open houses are great for meeting agents in your area. Take the time to have a brief chat with the listing agent and start the beginning of a professional relationship.
Observe how the agents interact with people to get idea of what they are like to work with. Are they answering questions, personable, and professional? This first impression will go a long way in helping your decision when looking for a lender.