Open Houses & What to Expect

There you are, driving down the road or scrolling on your phone when you see it. It stands out against everything around it, and the words it displays scream for your attention — OPEN HOUSE. Somewhere near you, the doors to a home have been opened, and you have been invited. A brand new home, an old home, a funny-looking home; it could be anything, and you get to see inside of it. But how do you find the open house? What do you bring to an open house? What can you expect to find at an open house?

Let's get a few things straight. An open house is a home that has been listed for sale and is being made available to the public for viewing. You do not need to schedule with an agent or have an agent attend. While everyone and anyone is welcome, you are still a guest in the home. It may not be appropriate to bring pets, young children may get bored quickly, and you should dress appropriately (casual is fine, but you probably shouldn't come ready to swim in their pool). You don't even need to be in the market to buy a home. The purpose of an open house is the allow the community to tour a home, meet realtors, ask questions, and even discover their tastes and inspiration.

Open houses are an open-door invitation.

Where to Find Them

Usually, you are likely to become aware of an open house simply by driving past a sign in your local area. While spotting signage is a good way to become aware of an open house, these events may not be a frequent occurrence in your area. Here is a list of some locations where you can find an open house near you:

• Signage in Your Area

• Your Preferred Real Estate Website (Zillow.com, Realtor.com, Etc.)

• Home Builder Websites (Newpeakhomes.com, Etc.)

• Home Builder & Realtor Social Media

• Local Agents

Open house signs are often on corners near the location.

Things to Bring

We mentioned that it isn't appropriate to bring pets to an open house, but there are some things that you should consider taking with you. Open houses are opportunities for you to explore your tastes, needs, and have questions answered. Here are a few items that can help you accomplish your goals:

• Phone/camera

• Notepad

• Tapemeasure

• Specific Questions

  
  

As always, be respectful and polite. Ask before taking pictures or making measurements. Many homes have a door camera or other security features, so be considerate of your speech, as homeowners are often eager to know what people think of their home. A notepad is perfect for making observations of things you like or dislike, writing questions down, and recording potential issues you may see. Going prepared with questions allows you to learn detailed information that you may not have thought of otherwise. Questions about the neighborhood, recent repairs, financing options, or seller incentives give you a great conversation starter after you have met the agent or finished viewing the home.

What Will Be There

Usually, an open house is hosted by a listing agent. Oftentimes, they may provide light refreshments such as a platter of cookies or water bottles. Agents will likely provide you with a business card and a flyer with specific details about the property. They may also have a sign-in sheet asking for your name and contact information. These are used to count the number of people who attended and allow them to notify you of future open houses. Some open houses even host giveaways for attendees.

Open houses may be furnished, and others might not. When a home is unfurnished, it is likely brand new, or the owner has already moved. When a home is furnished, it has either been staged by the agent or builder, or the owner has yet to move out. Again, please be respectful, as in such cases, you are walking through someone's possessions. You are welcome and encouraged to open doors, drawers, and cupboards, but please do not sift through their contents.

Jeremy Harris, New Peak Homes, Idaho Real Estate Agent.

Nathan Killpack, New Peak Homes, Wyoming Real Estate Agent

What to Look For

Open houses are a great opportunity to discover your tastes and needs. Even if you aren't in the market for a home, going to open houses is an ideal way to build an image of the home you eventually want or changes you would like in your current home. Be on the lookout for storage spaces. Is there enough room for your possessions? Can you store things in places that make sense to you, and how easy are they to access? Be conscious of the overall floor plan. Does the layout make sense for your lifestyle? How does the flow transition from room to room, particularly between private and public spaces?

It is important to be aware of potential issues. This is mostly relevant to older homes, but no home is exempt from possible flaws. Many issues will likely have been addressed in the past, so do not be afraid to ask the hosting agent questions regarding problems and what has been done to resolve them.

Ready to Visit an Open House?

New Peak Homes regularly hosts open houses with our recent builds. These open houses are found in Eastern Idaho and Southeastern Wyoming and often include giveaway events. To become aware of upcoming open houses, visit www.newpeakhomes.com and look for the countdown banner or follow our social media pages by searching New Peak Homes. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to join the blueprint club and receive access to exclusive earlybird tours. Interested in seeing a home that isn't built yet? Ask us about our immersive virtual reality (VR) home tours.

New Peak Homes offers virtual tours of select models.

Start planning your dream home today. Explore floorplans and customization options at www.newpeakhomes.com

New Peak Homes – Building the peak of what a home can be.