Ask Questions at an Open House

An open house, of course is a time for you to look around and get a feel for a property, but you should do more than just look. You also need to get some information. Ask questions! So many people just tour a house, open a few doors, and try to imagine their furniture in a place. This is fine, but you also need to treat this as an opportunity to research a business transaction because that is what buying a home is, it is business. Talk to the agent who is there. Don’t just let them smile at you and tell you about the granite countertops.

Here are a few sample questions:

1. How long has this home been for sale?
2. How long do homes like this stay on the market?
3. Are there many homes up for sale on this street/block?
4. What’s the average price for homes around here?

Some of the questions pertain to information you could get on your own, but it never hurts to get another perspective. Once you get the agent talking, that person could reveal information that can help you decide whether or not it is worth your time to look at that particular property or that neighborhood.