Open Houses

We are going to our first open house this weekend. What are allowed to do while we're there. Can we measure the rooms, open the closets and things like that? What do people normally do at open houses? Thanks so much.

Re: Open Houses

we did everything if we liked the house (although we didnt measure rooms)
but we opened the appliances, used the toilet, checked the faucets, opened windows, checked out the attic
we wanted to see as much as possible so we could determine if we wanted to make an offer or not

Re: Open Houses

It's so funny! I am in the process of writing a blog about what buyers should expect at open houses (and a sort of do's and don'ts).

To answer your main question - Yes, it's perfectly fine (and even expected) that you would open closets, kitchen cabinets. It's also fine to measure rooms.

You can walk right in at an open house (no need to ring the doorbell or wait for someone to answer... you'd be surprised how many people will do that!)

Expect to have to sign in. Some people balk at giving their names and contact info, but -- when I am working for a seller as a listing agent, and people are walking in off the street, I want to know who they are. Anyone can walk in, and it's my job to safeguard the security of the seller's home and belongings (and also my own personal well-being). So we keep a log of everyone who comes in.

Just a tip - before I was in real estate, when I was house hunting, DH and I created a separate email account just for our house hunt. So if you are worried about agents from open houses bombarding you with calls or emails, just set up an email account for your real estate stuff, and then you can check it at your leisure, and it's not an intrusion, but you may get helpful info.

Also, expect to sign the NYS Agency Disclosure Form. By law, agents are required to disclose to everyone they are having a substantive conversation with about a house (including price, details on the house, etc) who they are representing. The law requires us to tell buyers who come into open houses that we are representing the seller (anyone working an open house, whether the listing agent or just someone from the listing agent's company, is working for the seller), and have them sign the disclosure form acknowledging that they've been so informed. So don't freak out or think that you are being "tricked" into signing something. People get very suspicious of the disclosure form sometimes, but it's just for your consumer protection. Not every agent will ask you to sign the form, but if they are doing their job correctly they will (as licensed agents, we can be fined or otherwise professionally disciplined for not following this procedure if a spot-checker catches us at an open house).

Expect to be escorted through the house - Not every agent does this, but at my open houses, we generally have two agents working, and we try to walk through the house with them. I like to be able to show the house (giving useful information that buyers may want to know), and again, it goes back to safety and security. I don't want people roaming through unescorted, especially in an occupied house in which the owners still have their belongings.

To that end, don't be afraid to ask questions. A lot of people come to open houses and want to talk to the agent there as little as possible. But if I am the listing agent, then I have the information you may want to know. I know how old the roof is and how many zones of heat there are and when the kitchen was redone and whether there are C/Os. So just ask!

Don't bring in food or drink to the open house (where you can spill, etc.). If you come with a large group, try to stay together, especially if you have children with you. In some houses, in particular, it's not safe for a child to go wandering down to the basement alone.

In general, you want to treat someone's home the way you would want your home to be treated. Feel free to look carefully and thoroughly, but be respectful.

And if you have an agent you are working with, definitely mention that when you first go into the open house. It will save you and your agent a lot of hassle if you decide you want to buy the house if everyone is on the same page to start.

Have fun! House hunting should be fun, and it's exciting to start looking at open houses.

Re: Open Houses

Thank you so much, this was very helpful!