First Home Facts

3 Things To Know Before Attending New Home Open Houses

Attending new home open houses is a great step to take if you are looking for a house to buy, but it's important to know what to do and what not to do when visiting these homes. Here are three things to keep in mind as you begin searching for the perfect home to buy.

Rules of Etiquette

When homeowners or builders host open houses, they will welcome you into these homes during the open house hours. You are free to walk right in without knocking, but you should remember that the builder or homeowner may be there. Because of this, you should not:

  • Bring young kids – Not only could your kids distract you from seeing all the features of the home, but young kids might also be disrespectful to the property.
  • Criticize – There may be things you don't like about a house you are walking through, but you should not verbalize that.
  • Wear your shoes inside – Always take your shoes off when entering a home. If they don't mind you leaving them on, they will let you know.

If you have already selected a real estate agent to help you locate a home to buy, you should let them know when you enter. You will find agents at most open houses and they may get the wrong impression if you do not let them know that you already have an agent, but you should realize that your agent does not have to accompany you to open houses.

What You Should Be Looking At

Viewing new house open houses does not obligate you to purchase one of the homes you see, but it does give you the chance to look at the features and amenities of new homes in an area. As you look at homes, make sure you thoroughly examine the following features before you sign a purchase agreement to buy one of the houses:

  • Neighborhood – A quick drive through the neighborhood will tell you whether it is a place you would want to live or not.
  • Style and size – The style and size of a house are probably two of the most important features to look at when searching for a house to buy. When looking, it is also vital to find out if a home has a basement or attic, and you should examine the size of the yard too.
  • Systems – New houses will generally have efficient HVAC systems, but you still may want to ask questions about these things just to make sure. You may also want to ask whether the home has a septic system or city sewer and water system.
  • Builder – There may be homes that you really like and those that you do not like, but you may have trouble finding one that is exactly what you want. If this happens, you always have the option of hiring a contractor to build one that is perfect for your needs. As you visit open houses, talk to various builders to learn more about them.

Keep a notebook with you at all times to document things you liked and disliked about the homes, and make sure you write down any important features that you really want to find in a home.

Your Goals

As you visit many open houses, you will soon begin understanding what types of homes are available, and this will also give you a good idea as to the prices of these homes. Once you compile enough details about the house you are looking for, you can begin narrowing down your search. By looking through your notes, you may find that there is one house that really stands out and you may want to take a second look at this house.

If you have trouble finding one that is exactly what you want, you could talk to one of the builders you liked to learn more about the home building process.

Before you begin looking for a house, hire a real estate agent for help. Agents offer many types of realty services, and your agent will be glad to help you find the home of your dreams.

Click here to learn more about realty services in your area. 


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