Open House Etiquette – There is etiquette to follow when attending a open house. You may not be aware of these things, but that is why we are here today. To give you an understanding on the etiquette of open houses.
It is not difficult to behave correctly during an open house, but there are some things you want to keep in mind. This is both for the sellers benefit and yours. You should remember these things when you are on the hunt for your next property
Open House Etiquette
Open House Etiquette
I am sure these are not the only rules you should be following during a open house, but they should be helpful to you. If you have some additions to make to this list, feel free to do so in the comment section below. There is nothing better than addition thought patterns in the discussion. We can all learn and grow from them together.
Let’s get down to business and point you in the right direction when dealing with an open house and the appropriate etiquette to carry during them.
Know What You Want – There is no point in attending an open house if you don’t know what you want and are looking for. You don’t want to waste your time during this process. Therefore, you should be taking the time to figure out your wants, needs and desires ahead of time.
Comfortable Shoes – This should probably be number one on the list. Any time you are going to be standing on your feet for an extended period of time, you want to have on comfortable shoes. Give yourself an opportunity to see all the home has to offer before your feet start hurting and you don’t care anymore.
Play Nice – Don’t be confrontational in the open house. You don’t want to draw any attention to yourself, try to intimidate the home owner or the other buyers. This isn’t a time to start a fight, just a time of research for a property you may be interested in purchasing for an investment or a place to live.
Property, Not People - Focus on the property, not the people inside of it. This is not social hour where you come to meet a new group of potential friends. This is an open house. This is a time for you to learn all about the home you are considering as your next.
Ask Before Taking Pictures – Don’t just walk into the open house snapping pictures or taking video. You should get the permission of the owner or the agent first before doing so. They may not be comfortable with people doing these things in the property. However, more than likely they won’t mind, but you should ask first anyway.
No Criticism Inside Home – Don’t be negative inside of the home. Even if you don’t like it, you don’t want to scare other potential buyers. Give the seller a break, keep your comments to yourself, and discuss later once you have left the property.
Look at Property, Not Possessions – You are there fore the real property, which is anything permanently affixed to the property. You are not there to be going through their closets and drawers to see what they have in the home. Keep your mind on the property, not the possessions.
These are a few of the basic rules of a open house. The etiquette isn’t difficult to adhere to, but it is appreciated. Make sure you are on your best behavior when you are attending an open house. - Open House Etiquette
Great suggestions! I’ve been through many an open house in my day and these would come in handy.
Thanks Julie, glad you enjoyed the article!
Great list of advice! I agree with you that attending an open house without any idea of what are you looking for would only be a waste of time. Knowing what you want is very essential.