Open Houses: Not Just For Buyers Anymore

Listen. We’ll just come out and say it: We’ve gone to open houses with absolutely no intention of buying the property. And it’s very likely you have, too. A ‘For Sale’ sign sprouts in a neighbor’s yard and like a moth to a flame, you’re there.

The curiosity is almost too much to bear. In fact, for most of us, we simply can’t stand the thought of not peeking behind the fourth wall of someone’s home so we amble on over. What’s the house look like? What are they asking? How does it impact the value of our home? How’s the layout?

And, being in real estate, we totally get it because at the end of the day, we’re homeowners and – admittedly nosy – neighbors, too. Sometimes, we walk away with serious house envy, and other times we walk away happy – and admittedly smugly – confident that we chose the right house for ourselves.

But again, as Realtors, we also know that all the nosy neighbors that suddenly show up to our open houses can feel a bit awkward making small talk and feigning interest knowing they have zero intention of actually buying the house.

But fret not: It’s par for course and we’d be a little bit hypocritical to judge since, well, we do it, too. And sometimes, though not often, unsuspecting browsers can convert into buyers. In fact, about 7 percent of homes sell from open houses.

So all shame and terrible acting aside, what should you do when it comes to houses for sale in your neighborhood?

Here are five things to do – and not do – at an open house.

Be Inspired. Pinterest and Instagram can make just about anything look like an amazing idea but generally, it’s hard to gauge what it would look like in your brick-and-mortar. But walking through a home similar to yours – from the same era with similar architectural details as your own – is an IRL test-drive of your Pinterest boards.

Get Ideas. So you’ve been dreaming of painting your walls that saturated dark blue that seems to be everywhere – but you’re just not brave enough to pull the trigger. But to see that color in a house with a similar layout, size, and build date to yours with that inky deep blue may be just what you need to finally do it – or never consider it again.

Learn From Others’ Mistakes. You can easily avoid making decidedly less awesome decisions when you see what someone else has done. You may spy an unfortunate bathroom configuration or doors leading to nowhere. The point is this: If you’re entertaining the idea of a major change – like taking down a wall or converting a bedroom to a bathroom – let other people’s cautionary tales help you avoid making those same mistakes. And BONUS! It’ll save you a ton of money, too.

Learn The Value Of A Dollar. We pour so much love and sweat equity into our homes that we may – just may –  overvalue them in our minds. And it makes sense since you bought your house for a reason – but your reason, over time, may become more grounded in emotion and sentimentality than market value. So visiting a house similar to yours that is priced to sell is a great way to realign those expectations to actual market conditions.

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener. In fact, it may just be painted to look that way. Seriously. But after putting in a little time in your home, it’s all too easy to envy the look and feel of other people’s homes. Every home has inherent value, charm and lovability – and room for improvement. Your home and every other home on the market share that so try to remember why you fell in love in the first place – with your home, that is.

Ultimately, the biggest benefit of looking at other people’s homes is to be reminded that every home is lovable, including yours. Those mansions with the to-die-for bathrooms and closets? They have drawbacks, too. We promise. So be the nosy neighbor. Take a peek, get inspired and fall in love with your house all over again. And if you don’t, that’s what we’re here for at DeLeon Sheffield Company.

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’