You may come across a home for sale that piques your attention, but now what? A great step as a homebuyer is to attend an open house to get a better idea if the property is truly to your liking.
A home showing can take around 45 minutes for small properties and even a few hours for larger homes, so before attending a showing, it is essential to prepare to make the most out of your time.
Review the listing
Before attending a home showing, it’s beneficial to review the listing, even if you’ve seen it before. This gives you a chance to make sure it has the basics of what you’re searching for (at minimum, in writing).
It also lets you examine if the home meets both your short and long-term expectations. For example, a single family home with 3 bedrooms may fit your current needs, but if you plan to have kids later, the home may not be suitable.
Examine your home buying budget
Before taking time out of your schedule to attend an open house, examine your finances to make sure the home falls within your home buying budget.
A great step is to get preapproved for a mortgage loan before attending an open house, so you can get a clear picture of the funds you have to work with. With this knowledge, you can narrow down the house showings you attend to match your home buying budget, and waste less time on properties outside your spending plan.
Write down a list of questions you have about the property
An open house is a great opportunity to walk around and learn more about a residence in person to decide if it’s the right homebuying choice. During this time, asking questions about the home can give you immense insight into what the property has to offer, repairs needing to be made, neighborhood lifestyle and more.
To take the guesswork out of homebuying, consider working with a real estate agent who can narrow down your options to listings best suiting your needs. With a real estate agent by your side and using the aforementioned tips, you can make the most out of the home showing you attend.
About the Author
Linda Cappello, Broker, GRI, ABR
Linda A. Cappello, Owner/Broker of Cappello Realty Shoreline Properties. Cappello Realty is a full service boutique Real Estate firm that specializes in 06855 - East Norwalk, and services all of Norwalk and Fairfield County, CT. Linda has been in the Real Estate business for 20+ years, spending 18 of them as a Owner/Broker. Being a Broker adds a lot responsibility to her job. She is responsible for overseeing every transaction and agent in the office. This is a challenge that she looks forward to and takes very seriously. She is constantly taking continuing education classes and attending seminars to keep abreast of the ever changing market as well as the industry standards, rules and regulations.
She is a native to East Norwalk, and has an in-depth knowledge of the city that she loves, as well as the intricacies of the many unique neighborhoods and areas that Norwalk offers. Linda offers her clients a network of professionals ranging from Attorneys, Mortgage Brokers, Home Stagers and Home Inspectors to any and all pros that you may need for a successful transaction and for the convenience of her clients.
"My job doesn't end at the closing table. It goes far beyond that, keeping in touch and staying friends who refer their family and friends. A lot of my business is referral business which is the greatest accomplishment and honor of all. Earning my clients trust."
