House wandering
If I didn’t get paid to do this job, I could find better things to do with a Sunday afternoon than go to open houses. Sunday was an extraordinary day; it was perfect autumn. What were all these people doing out there?
I was out for three different households, so I had a reason to be doing a some-of-these-things-are-not-like-the-other tour. I saw the same people in homes that were nothing like one another. Some admitted to being neighbors. Most were just house-wandering.
I admit that in the past two weeks, I saw two of the nicest houses I have ever seen in my 17-year career. Both need work, but are intrinsically special. I might have gone to see those if I lived nearby. Seeing houses like that might be worth a Sunday afternoon. Most open houses are not like that. They just don’t seem worth the time unless you were thinking of buying.
I have never understood Sunday house-wandering. Is real estate really a spectator sport? Wouldn’t you rather walk in the Blue Hills? Around Fresh Pond? Take a bike ride along one of the rail trails? We are close to beautiful landscapes north and south of the city. We are only a few hours from the Pioneer Valley to the west.
Have you house-wandered on a Sunday afternoon, just to see houses when you were not house-hunting? What motivates you?
Were there so many people house-wandering this Sunday because the Patriots played at night? (I guess I should ask Mike Reiss.)
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OH, sure. I love looking at houses. It just lets you know how other folks live.
Hmm. I'm a frequent house wanderer. But then, I'm also a massive real estate geek.
The house does have to be interesting in some way though.
Observation for those hosting open houses:
A young couple walks into an open house and admits they're looking and representing themselves. They sign in, giving an honest name and phone number. What do you do/
1) Give them a card, point out something not obvious, and get out of their way and let them enjoy the house?
2) Immediately go on the hard sell about the house?
3) Hard sell the house and all your other listings?
Now you know why so many people are "just looking". I'm pretty tired of checking out open houses to get an idea of what is on the market at various price points and as a method to interview potential agents only to get a hard sell and a call on my cell phone a couple days later asking what I thought about the house and dozens of follow-up emails. If I have your card, and you were nice enough to let me see the house and make an observations that wasn't immediately apparent (e.g., add value to the conversation) instead of coming off like a commision-hungry UHS, I'll mark it on the card and probably give you a call.
Agreed with Michael M. Given one day I might be able to afford something I use open houses to check out areas and price points and 'what you get for your money'. And yes, I look in on my neighbors who are selling. (and also look at the million dollar condos to find shotty construction...)
But the hard sell is tough to deal with. Although many REs now tell me they need 'proof they were there and people came by", so it's less of a sell than it used to be.
On the other side, I've dropped not so subtitle hints that I'm looking for stuff like this in this neighborhood, only to have the agent never call. hmmmm
My fiancee and I have been house wandering for a year and a half! Then again, we are first time buyers... We don't want to end up with something we hate and there is so much to look at right now. It's kind of overwhelming actually. But the prices just keep dropping!! Very exciting times for buyers all around I guess. But in all honesty, I can't wait to STOP wandering and start living in our chosen home!
I want to give hope to agents who hold open houses.
I have purchased three houses in my house buying lifetime. Two of them were seen for the first time at an open house, the last 20 months ago.
I am also guilty of just being nosy, but I'm up front about it. I dropped in at one open house for a non-discript property because it was yet again changing hands.
I asked what was wrong with the property, was it haunted? The agent got a kick out of it.
It is a way of knowing what is up for sale in my neighborhood, for how much and why. Agents are very understanding when I tell them I am a neighbor.
As an agent, I appreciate people who are honest with me about their motives for coming to an open house. It's ok to be a nosy neighbor, and it's ok to say you're just starting to look around to get an idea of they type of property you can find at different price ranges (I always recommend people do that before they get serious). If you don't want a follow-up phone call, then say so, but writing fake names and numbers is childish.
I don't like a hard sell, so I won't act that way myself. I know you have many choices.
I will try to stay out of your way, but I won't let you wander unattended - too many stories about light-fingered open-house attendees. I will answer your questions and will get back to you about anything I don't know (but not if you left a fake number/email). I'll send you a personal thank-you note for coming to the OH (again, not if you left fake info).
But please - spare me the "will they take" questions (usually at 20-30% under asking) because I can't speak for the sellers, and won't think that you're serious until you submit a written offer. I've actually seen the same people use the same tactics at different houses..........they never seem to close the deal.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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