What is an open house? How are you supposed to act at an open house? Are you even allowed to go to one? I’m here to help answer all of your questions about open houses! Over the last few years as a real estate agent, I’ve hosted over 150 open houses so I can tell you exactly what to expect and what to avoid doing on your next open house visit!
I’ve seen it all, from people who were kind and friendly to others who trash talked the whole house. I’ve even had visitors who left a pleasant surprise for me in one of the bathrooms… (luckily I had some candles!) Open houses are a wonderful way to get to know the market and lingo and they are more laid back than you think! Before we jump into the open house etiquette, I wanted to touch on a few frequently asked questions about how open houses work and what to expect when you’re there!
What Is An Open House?
Did you know that open houses have been around since 1910!? The concept of open houses has been around for over a century and I don’t see it going away any time soon. In fact, I think as buyers become more independent thanks to all of the online resources, open houses will start becoming more common.
An open house is a chance to visit a house that’s for sale without having to bring a Realtor or schedule an appointment! They are absolutely free, open to everyone and serve as “drop-by” events, so you don’t need to worry about showing up right at the beginning!
They are also a way for the seller to get traffic to their home and for the hosting agent to meet potential new clients. They typically occur on weekends between the hours of 11-5pm (usually only for 3 hours though!).
Why Do Open Houses Exist?
The idea is to get foot traffic in the hopes of a sale, what most people don’t know is that open houses don’t typically sell the actual house. Out of the 150 open houses I’ve held, only four visitors purchased the actual home. The others went on to buy another house. I also know many agents who have never sold a single home from an open house. It is actually quite rare to sell a home from an open house. So if the success rate is so low, why do open houses exist?
Open houses are held as a way to show the listing agent you’re doing everything you can to market their property. They’re also quite a beneficial lead generation source for Realtors. Most open houses are actually not held by the listing agents but by other agent colleagues in the hopes of meeting a potential buyer client. In fact this is why I have hosted so many in my career! They are the main and most enjoyable source of clients for me.
So, next time you’re at an open house, talk to the agent as if you are interviewing them to represent you (here are some questions you could ask).
How do you find An Open House?
The most popular resource is Zillow. There is an option to search for open houses by location, price, and home size. You can also drive around your desired neighborhood and look for open house signs (most occur between 12-4pm on weekends so that would be a great time to look!).
Another source is social media! I always post my open house tours on Instagram and Facebook! You can search hashtags like “[Your City] Open House” or find an open house Facebook Group like this one where agents post their open house flyers.
How does an open house Even work?
Most open houses are very laid back! You’ll come in, mingle with the Realtor, sign in for them and then you’re free to roam the home! Most Realtors will give you your space and occasionally check in to see if they can answer any questions.
You’re free to stay as long as you like (during the scheduled time), but most people stay around 15 minutes.
Anyone can go to an open house- even if you’re not eligible to purchase a home yet, or it’s way out of your price range! Open houses are open to everyone!
Why Everyone Should Go To Open Houses
There are numerous benefits to visiting open houses! They’re not beneficial just for home buyers, but for sellers as well! Below is a list of the most prominent benefits!
- Despite all of the virtual tours and photos online, nothing quite beats physically visiting an actual home. Open houses are one of the best ways a buyer can familiarize themselves with the market and develop their home buying criteria! When I have my initial consultations with clients, it’s very rare that they know exactly what they’re looking for. Usually most buyers haven’t quite narrowed down their criteria yet and going to open houses is the best way to understand what their prioritize in a home.
- By frequenting open houses you will also start recognizing pricing trends and what your fellow open house visitors look for. By noticing what the most popular elements are of a home, you will know what to look for to ensure a good resale value. Use them to do research for the future when you’ll need to sell your home! While this most likely won’t be at top of mind, it will still be useful knowledge to gain.
- There’s usually free food! This one is for all of my foodies out there! Touring open houses could be a great weekend plan and you can even score some great snacks out of it! I personally still go to agent-only open houses because I love the food and geeking out at the homes!
- I am a huge believer in visual manifestation. If you visit enough open houses it can help you visualize yourself as a homeowner and inspire you to get there faster.
- Get the nitty gritty details on the neighborhood! Most open houses will have a few nosy neighbors there who can tell you more about the neighborhood!
- You can meet lots of agents and find a Realtor that you truly connect with! What better way to informally interview numerous agents? Be sure to look up their reviews when you get home though!
- You can take your time in the home! Unlike a scheduled showing, you are able to plan your visit around your own schedule and don’t have to worry about inconveniencing your Realtor by hanging out for longer than the typical 15 minutes.
- Open houses are beneficial for both buyers and sellers! How do they benefit sellers? They let sellers scope out their competition and get staging ideas from other homes! Sellers can listen in on the other visitor’s feedback and find out if they can improve the showing experience for their home.
When Should You Start Going To Open Houses?
Open Houses are a really fun and informative way to go house shopping! Most visitors I meet start going to them 6-12 months before they’re ready to buy! This allows them to have ample time to develop their criteria and ask the Realtors any questions they might have.
The typical home buying process takes 2-3 months so by looking at open houses ahead of time you can fully arm yourself to jump into the process when you’re ready!
What Is The Proper Open House Etiquette?
Are you nervous about visiting your first home? Don’t be! I’ll let you in on a little secret. Us Realtors are nervous about leaving you with a good impression! We’re there as a resource for you in your home buying journey so there’s nothing to worry about! But, there are a few very off-putting things I’ve seen people do so I’d like to share them in the hopes of helping improve the open house experience for everyone!
1. Be respectful of the schedule
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve turned off all of the lights, packed up all of my things only to have someone show up 5 minutes before the end of the open house.
If the open house is listed at 12-3pm, do your best to not come at 2:50pm. The Realtor might have other appointments afterwards. If you know you’re going to be late, call the agent to give them a heads up!
This goes both ways, if you show up thirty minutes early, the Realtor will most likely be busy setting up the home and will not be able to accommodate you properly. Be respectful of the scheduled times!
2. Don’t be shy about taking the snacks!
I’ve actually stopped bringing snacks to every open house since most people are too shy to take them! The snacks are there for you! It’s a judgement free zone!
3. Sign in, but don’t write a fake number or email down.
You can always unsubscribe or block later, or just don’t write any number or email in the first place. Most Realtors follow up with every visitor after the open house and set them up on a customized home search so it’s a waste of our time to find out someone wrote fake information down. Just be straightforward!
4. Be honest about having a Realtor
If you’re already working with a Realtor, it is common courtesy to let the open house agent know. This way they know you’re already represented. Your Realtor has access to the same homes as the open house agent does so there’s no need to get separate listing emails from each agent you meet!
5. Bring a notepad
Take notes on what you like and don’t like about each house! It’ll be helpful in formulating your criteria later. You can also jot a few quick notes down on your phone for convenience.
6. Don’t act suspicious
The sad truth is that agents have been attacked and even murdered at open houses. I am always on high alert during my open houses so please do your best to make the agent feel comfortable and safe around you. Some agents will ask to see your driver’s license upon entry, please don’t be offended and comply!
7. Ask the Realtor questions about the home!
Ask about the nitty gritty details like the age of the roof, AC, plumbing and electric. Ask if there are any offers on the home and if the open house has been busy. You can ask why the seller is moving but most likely the agent will just give you a generic answer. Also, an agent isn’t legally allowed to tell you about the safety of the neighborhood, but you can use the tools I mention here to look up crime statistics.
8. Give constructive feedback
There’s no point in trashing the whole home. The real estate agent is a person and is doing their best to bring in traffic. But, if you see a leak or a broken blind, be sure to let the agent know so they can notify the sellers. And, if you love the home, be sure you keep that to yourself if it is the listing agent hosting the open house so that you don’t hurt your negotiating power.
9. Follow the rules
This is especially important during the current situation. If the Realtor asks you to use hand sanitizer or not touch anything, please comply!
10. Take the listing sheet
Usually the Realtor will provide an information sheet (also called an MLS sheet) with useful information on it. Some of the information you might find is the price, length of time on market (DOM: Days On Market), age of the home, square footage, taxes, and any neighborhood fees (HOA, CDD, etc).
11. Close doors behind you
Be sure to close the doors behind you after entering the home or coming in from the backyard! The agent isn’t able to run around making sure the doors are closed when they’re focusing on greeting new visitors.
12. Don’t poop…
if you really have to go try going to the gas station first.. And yes this has happened to me before…
13. Be respectful of the seller’s belongings
If the home is still occupied, be mindful of their belongings. Don’t touch anything that doesn’t belong to you, and don’t be critical of their tastes. I’ve hosted an open house before where the seller set up cameras and could hear everything.
14. Ask if you can take photos or videos
Most of the times the agent will allow it, but sometimes sellers are particular about having their home and belongings filmed.
15. Watch your children
I’ve heard of instances where kids have broken seller’s belongings because their parents weren’t watching them. Do your best to keep your kids behavior in check!
16. Be mindful of the other visitors
Even if you’re not a serious home shopper, there might be a guest there who is! Be mindful of saying or doing anything that might affect their home shopping experience!
17. Try not to bring a pet in, hold them the whole time and ask for permission first
Some agents won’t allow any pets to enter an open house but if they do, be respectful by holding the pet in your arms and not letting them run wild!
18. Let the Realtor know how serious of a buyer you are
If you’re just getting a feel for the neighborhood, be upfront with the Realtor so they can better cater the open house experience to your needs.
19. Ask if you can open cabinets and closets
This is especially important if the home is still occupied. Respect their privacy by not opening their cabinets and closets unless the agent says it’s okay!
20. Let the agent know if you’d like a customized listing search sent to you
The Realtor is there to help you, so if you’d like a personalized list of homes sent straight to your inbox, let them know! They’d be happy to help you!
21. Familiarize yourself with the real estate lingo
If you’re unsure about what certain real estate lingo means or need help with the information sheet, don’t be afraid to ask the agent!
22. Say bye when you leave
I’ve had people who left the open house through the backyard and it left me wondering whether or not they were still in the home. It is more respectful to exit through the home and share any feedback you might have!
What To Do After Your Open House
Frugalwoods put it well, every open house is a “case study”. Each open house gives you “data” on what is out there in the current market! Eventually you’ll start noticing valuable trends! If a certain neighborhood tends to have packed open houses, it means it’s a popular area to invest in. You’ll start recognizing which neighborhoods bring in artsy people, young families, etc. This is valuable information that isn’t easily Googled. You’ll also start learning what interior decor is popular (right now it’s gray floors, white kitchens but we’re seeing more of a shift towards colors and boho chic).
Take a few moments at the end of your open house escapades to reflect on which neighborhoods and homes were your favorites, and which ones to knock off your list. Make a plan to revisit the neighborhoods you enjoyed the most.
If the Realtor follows up with you, do not ghost them! They can send you a customized list of homes, or answer your other home buying questions. But, if you’d rather work with someone else or on your own, just be honest with them. Ghosting is not fun for anyone!
Very informative and interesting. I learned a lot, and I’ve been in the business 50 years!