Home Hunt 101- Open Houses

Home Hunt 101- Open Houses

Currently, I am working with some phenomenal buyers, smart, sweet and dedicated to their home search; but super busy people. Often what happens with busy buyers is that they can only devote a dedicated amount of time to seeing homes and so you work agent showings into a weekend open house schedule and see as many as you can that they've highlighted.

This past weekend so many great properties were on "Open" that all the time was used moving through the options so what are the best ways to see only the homes that you need to see?

Know Your Numbers and Areas

Always make sure that your finances are in order by dealing with a mortgage lender, broker or financial advisor in advance. While you're at it start the process of getting pre-approved for your eventual mortgage. If you know your area for the home search, great, but otherwise visit and read about the possible neighborhoods to make your future home.

Decide upon the following before you venture forth:

Your Must-Haves:

Do you need covered parking, a fireplace in the living room, an ensuite master, walk-in closets or a huge backyard with a swimming pool and room for the puppies to run? Getting down to what would be nice to have, absolutely need or what will ultimately make this new home a place you'll love for years to come, really matters.

Your Must-Nots:

Is the home on a busy street, what about the schools, is the property simply dated or does it need major restoration work or an addition to meet your needs? Really drilling down to what is a deal-breaker will allow you to make the most of the time you spend on each home and allow you to make those evaluations a simpler process.

Thinking it Through

Getting into a property costs money so taking the time to discuss and decide upon the amenities, neighborhood, and lifestyle resources you absolutely need are priority one. Will you be raising children? Good public schools are then valuable to you and also valuable for resale so even if kids are not a factor consider the ratings. What about local parks, libraries, cafes, restaurants, retail, grocers? Each layer of life should be considered, public transit, commutes, proximity to family, friends, or established community connections. Take nothing off the table just list the relative weights or importance of each and of course expect to have to compromise as there is never an absolutely perfect fit on every aspect.

Take Notes: 

When you have a wealth of choices keeping the details straight can get confusing. Here are just a few options on keeping it all straight.

• Have your agent keep a shared spreadsheet on Google Drive
• Use One Note or Evernote or any other note and photo app to keep photos and notes for reference 
• Record a video or voice walkthrough
• Use an app that communicates directly to your agent

Finally, Relax and Have Some Fun with it:

Even though the home hunt may be a long process and even one with lots of drama at times this is a wonderful time in your lives filled with possibilities and great adventures in store. Look at the home search as a small and unique portion of your life and enjoy the journey.




Always consult your agent, broker, and tax or financial advisors to decide on your best options when negotiating contracts. Contact us anytime for assistance!