One of the best and most exciting things about buying a home is going to various open houses, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. Seeing all your options and picturing yourself living in the gorgeous homes you visit is definitely a highlight in the whole process.
It’s a pretty simple and casual process, but also very important for the sale. Most of the time, there will be multiple people coming in to view the house with you. Similarly, it’s also very common practice for buyers (guided by their real estate agent) to attend multiple open houses to get a feel of what’s out there for them. This is why it’s important that you know what you want and how much you’re willing to pay for it so you can decide on a reasonable amount for your offer (if you’re planning on making one, that is).
Here are some tips for first-time buyers attending open houses.
Tip #1 Make a list
Before you start going to multiple open houses, create a list of the things you want to see in a house to consider it as a serious contender and make a list of things that you could see in a house that you would consider a deal breaker. This will help you decide later if the pros outweigh the cons or if a certain house is worth making an offer on.
Tip #2 Take pictures and/or videos (with consent from the seller)
This is going to be especially useful if you’re planning on seeing multiple houses since it’ll be difficult remembering details from each one. Take pictures and videos of things that you liked and didn’t like. If there are things that need repair, document those too so you can get an estimate of how much it would take to fix it later, should you decide to go with that particular house.
Tip #3 Make a good first impression
Most open houses may have a very casual and relaxed vibe to them, but make no mistake; everyone else there that’s not the seller or their agent is your competition and you’re all vying for the same prize. Making a handsome offer on the property isn’t enough, especially if your competition can afford to one up your offer. This is why it’s important to make a good impression on the seller and/or their agent. Be friendly and dress and behave appropriately while touring their home. It’s okay to ask questions as long as you remain respectful and steer clean from queries that are too personal.
Tip #4 Make yourself memorable
Making yourself memorable to the seller/agent is a good way to ensure that your offer will be in the running when all the other offers come in. Bringing a gift for the host is not common practice and may be seen as bribery so that might be a risky path to take. A safe way to become memorable, though, is to find one unique thing that you really like about the home, compliment the seller on it, and (if possible) ask for the story behind it. If it’s something they deliberately chose for the house (like a custom feature wall, their choice of lighting fixtures, or the art they have on display), chances are that they’ll be happy to tell the story behind it and remember you for noticing and asking!
Tip #5 Prepare your questions
Buying your first home can be nerve wracking. There are a lot of things you’ll want to know about the house you’re buying, but may forget to ask at the open house so make sure you have them ready on your phone or somewhere convenient. Some of the most common questions first-time buyers ask include the reason for selling, when the house was built, and what the neigborhood/neighbors are like. Of course you’re free to add any questions you might have to the list as well.
Ready for your first open house? If you’re still looking for your first home in Atlanta, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to me here.