Hit the Open House Circuit Running

While most home buyers today start their search online, nothing replaces actually walking in the door of a home and peeking in all the nooks and crannies. Certainly, use online descriptions and virtual tours to winnow your choices down to the most promising. But be prepared to lace up your running shoes and hit the open house circuit. Here are some tips from the experts on getting the most out of an open house:

• It's all about volume. Visit a significant number of open houses. The more homes you see, the better you'll understand what you want in a house and what your housing dollar can buy.
• Be prepared. Before you start touring homes, make a checklist of all the features you want in a home. Don't forget to include location factors such as distance to shopping, quality schools, parks, community services and ambiance. The right house in the wrong neighborhood won't make you happy. You should also include features you definitely do not want in a home. Take your checklist with you to gauge how each house stacks up to your dream home. As you visit more homes, you may want to make adjustments to your checklist, adding features you like or hate.
• Talk to your realtor. Let your realtor know not only what features you want in a home, but what you seek in a community. He can use this information to help you pinpoint which open houses might be worth your time. He can also arrange tours of homes that meet your criteria but that might not be scheduled for an open house.
• A picture is worth 1000 words. When you visit multiple homes, it's easy to confuse the details. Take a camera along (or use your cell phone) to supplement the marketing materials you'll be given. Take a picture of the outside of the house before you enter. Include the yard and a bit of a neighboring home to help you mentally "place" the house after you get home. Take copious notes and pictures during your tour of the features you most love and hate. You'll find the visual record invaluable when it's time to winnow down your list to a few favorites.
• Don't feel rushed. Home buying is a process. The more homes you visit, the more sure you'll be that the home you buy is the one you truly want. If a house really interests you, you'll probably visit it several times, giving it a more thorough look each visit.
• Mum's the word. If you particularly like a home you're touring, keep it to yourself. In the final analysis, home buying comes down to a negotiation for price. If you seem too eager at the open house, the seller's agent will pick up on your enthusiasm which may work to your disadvantage during purchase negotiations. If you really like a house, make a note to schedule a private tour with your agent. It will give you a chance to discuss the home's pros and cons in privacy with a knowledgeable expert.

Veteran realtor John Day understands the value of open houses. John will listen carefully to what you want in a home and neighborhood and arrange for you to visit homes that meet your criteria. John Day will not waste your valuable time on homes that don't meet your needs. John can even help you develop a checklist of desirable features to look for, pointing out pros and cons you may not have considered.

Intimately familiar with the many communities and neighborhoods of Maryland and the Washington DC metro area, John Day can help you find the perfect home in the perfect community. Visit John Day's website to check out the newest listings and start narrowing your search. Call John Day and let John help you find the home of your dreams. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.