New fall inventory and lower interest rates are enticing buyers to start hitting open houses. If you’re new to the open house circuit, it’s a good time to get familiar with the do’s and don’ts as you move through your weekend stops.
Here are my top tips, culled from my own experience and a recent survey of my colleagues:
1. Ask before you use the bathroom. Check with the host agent before you hit the toilet. If you do use the bathroom, make sure you flush, put the seat back down, leave the lights on and don’t leave the staging towels wet and crumpled on the side of the sink.
2. Don’t kick the tires during an open house. Avoid testing range burners, running water (especially the shower), turning on the heat, that kind of thing. Open houses are for figuring out whether a property has promise. If you like the home, schedule a showing with your agent during which you can do the aforementioned activities.
3. Don’t exit through side or garage doors. Unless an agent is indicating that it’s ok to exit from the side gate, for example, depart from the front door. Leaving various access points unlocked is a security challenge, and agents are trying to keep an eye on who’s coming and going.
4. Try to show up no later than 15 minutes before an open house ends. It can sometimes be challenging fitting in multiple open house visits in that 1:00-4:00 timeframe. But try to adhere to closing times. Rushing through houses with five minutes to spare—or arriving as the agent is literally leaving the property–is stressful for everyone.
5. Acknowledge the host agent and sign in. Say hi to the agent who’s hosting, and sign in if you’re asked. New real estate industry guidelines include having open house guests sign in. If you’re a serious buyer with an agent, definitely let the host agent know who your agent is—and include that info on the sign-in sheet.
6. Don’t let kids run amuck. Seeing homes with your kids can be difficult, especially when they’re at the age when they want to jump on furniture and play with the staged accessories. Keep a close watch on the kids’ activities so we can all avoid potential injuries and broken vases.
7. Ask before you march in with your dog(s). Considerable pre-sale prep goes into getting a property ready to sell, including cleaning or refinishing floors and carpet. If you can’t leave your dog outside or carry her/him in, just ask the host agent if it’s ok to bring your dog through. Similarly, if the host has a no-shoes policy for visitors, either use the booties or remove your shoes.
8. Don’t stand around the property talking trash. Wait until you leave a home to discuss negative comments you might have.
9. Ask before you test your car in the garage. Host agents will happily facilitate a test park in the garage if it’s possible to do that during an open, particularly if your agent is with you. But busy open houses are sometimes not ideal for this activity.
10. Walk it in, walk it out. Don’t leave your trash in the property. That includes empty coffee cups, water bottles, other property flyers—please take it with you.