The Right (And Wrong) Way To Host & Attend Open Houses

Open houses are a huge part of both the buying and selling process. You might be hesitant to host or attend one because they can be painfully awkward. Walking around your potential new home with a real estate agent following you from room to room isn't the most comfortable experience, especially if there are parts of the home you don't like or the home is in not-so-great condition. 

As a buyer, this is your time to finally see what that home you bookmarked online looks like in person. 

As a seller, this is your moment to make your home look special and showcase what you have loved most about your home over the years.

When done right, open houses can lead to on the spot sales, bidding wars, and can open your eyes to what you're really looking for in a home. We took a few stories from Andrew Dorn of realtor.com, who visited seven different open houses in one weekend, to show you the right (and wrong) way to host and attend open houses.

Buyer Tips

If you are a potential buyer going to open houses in hopes of finding your next home, you'll need to be prepared for a few red flags to look out for. You should also go into the open house with a few pointers and questions to ask.

If the home you're going to is one you have been looking at online, then you probably already know a little bit about the property. Even if you've lived in or around the same town the home is in, there are still a few questions you should have prepared to get a true sense of the house and the area.

Pay Attention

It's easy to be distracted at an open house: by other visitors, by your phone, by the person you are visiting the home with. Aim to pay attention. Note the ceiling height; the quality of the light; the views; furniture placement. Focus on what matters to you. Aim to be alone with yourself and really focus on the residence.

Learn more about the Neighborhood

Aim to learn more about the neighborhood. Ask the open house host what he or she can share with you.

Ask questions about the home

Any disclosures? Age of systems? Age of roof? Reason seller is selling? Average utility bills? When was house last painted? Ask questions about the home.

Now that you know what questions you should ask the real estate agent or host of the open house, there are a few red flags that you should also be on the lookout for when you're walking through your potential new home.

Seller Tips

Whether you're selling your home on your own and hosting an open house, or working with a real estate agent to host one for you, there are a few tips that can make or break how your home looks in the eyes of potential buyers.

Clean up! 

As Andrew approached one of the seven homes, right above the front door was a little perch where birds could sit. It's a great thought, but when he looked down there was bird poop all over the concrete that enters into the door. 

“It makes me sick. I actually had to kind of take a hop step and jump over it so I wouldn't get the bird stuff on the bottom of my shoes.”

This is your homes first impression. If potential buyers get a bad taste in their mouth from the front porch, then the expectations are set before they even talk through the door.

Remove any signs of Pets

Almost everyone loves pets, but that doesn’t mean that everyone likes to see where they live -- and go to the bathroom. As Andrew walked into a bathroom in one of the homes, he saw what he thought was a trash can which actually was a kitty litter box. After an even closer look, he noticed a mark left by the kitty. 

In the kitchen, there was a beautiful vase of flowers on the counter. It was a great and simple touch to add to the open house; however, next to the vase was a small Tupperware container with what seemed to be little brown round things - which again belonged to a cat. It was cat food. 

“If you look at it, I promise you, I think some people would pick it up and say I wonder if this is chocolate.”

Stage Your Home!

Buyers expect tip-top shape and for your home to be show-ready. Out of the seven open houses that Andrew attended, only one or two of them seemed to be actually ready for potential buyers to look at. Stage the home accordingly to make it look liveable. If it’s a home for a family, stage it to look like a family would live there, but also make sure it's neat and clean.