At some point during your home buyers search, you'll spend a weekend going from open house to open house. Here are a few suggestions to make your day pleasant and effective.

1. Plan your route and consider inviting your agent to join you. One perk is that your agent can book a showing for you during the open house time slot. By doing this, your agent will be kept up to date about the listing and will be notified about preemptive/bully offers, price changes, and more.

2. This might seem obvious, but take notes. It's easy to get confused about home features when you’ve seen a bunch of properties, and you might find yourself asking questions like, was it the bungalow or the side-split that had the mirrored ceiling?

   
   

3. Wear comfortable slip-on shoes. Those kicks will be off and on all afternoon, so give your back a break and ditch the 20-hole Dr. Martens for some comfortable slip-on sneakers.

   
   

4. Make a list of essential questions you have. You will most likely be approached by the real estate agent hosting the open house. It's their job to greet you and answer questions, so don’t be shy and ask away. Side note: If you are a neighbour stopping in to check out the open house, you don’t have to make up an elaborate backstory about checking out the house for your sibling. We know neighbours are curious and will stop in, relax and enjoy a cookie or two. 

   
   

5. Bring water and snacks for the trek to keep yourself hydrated and satiated. No one wants to be “hAnGry” when looking for your next home.

6. Smile! You’re on Camera! Security cameras, nanny cams, and doorbell cameras are very popular and often record audio. Be careful not to give away too much information about how much you love the property; instead, discuss your thoughts in the car on your way to the next Open House.

I hope you find these ideas helpful for your next open house tour. Let me know if you have a tip or two that you would recommend.