Heading to an open house this weekend? Avoid these three things

For Southern California home hunters, spring weekends ought to imply one factor: open homes.

In an everyday actual property market, these occasions are calm and informal, an opportunity to see what’s available on the market and look into the lifetime of a stranger. However not in Southern California, the place the cutthroat market turns open homes into battlefields the place patrons should one-up one another to make the perfect impression and improve their probability of touchdown a house.

Don’t have any worry, for The Occasions is right here to assist. This week, we printed “The Nice SoCal Home Hunt,” an all-encompassing, step-by-step information to purchasing a house. It covers every thing you’ll want to know in the course of the home-buying course of, and one of many highlights is an open home survival information that’ll helps you propose for each step of the best way.

For starters, you’ll must discover a home to tour. To take action, simply click on this hyperlink. It scans actual property itemizing website Redfin for each open home this weekend in L.A. County; to slender it right down to a selected neighborhood, merely kind the realm you’re eyeing into the search bar.

When you’ve discovered a spot value testing, listed below are the three most vital issues to keep away from once you go to.

Don’t give away an excessive amount of data

The vendor’s agent is there to assist, however they’re additionally in search of out data from potential patrons that may very well be used for leverage down the highway.

For instance, should you inform the itemizing agent that you just’re within the technique of promoting your present place and want to search out someplace as quickly as attainable, the agent will use that data to ask for more cash in the course of the negotiation course of since they know you’re determined.

Whereas it’s important to ask questions, don’t ask any that might offend the vendor.

“I noticed one couple stroll into an open home and ask how secure the realm was,” mentioned Heather Presha, an agent with Keller Williams Realty. “The vendor doesn’t need to promote to individuals who assume their neighborhood isn’t secure.”

Don’t annoy the agent

Talking of offending the vendor, attempt to not be a nuisance. Brokers have pet peeves, and should you come off as a high-maintenance purchaser, it’ll make your supply much less enticing down the highway.

You may also annoy the agent by asking too many questions. The agent is there to supply data, however monopolizing their time and coming again to tour with buddies, household and others may give the impression that it’s going to be a ache to shut a take care of you.

Additionally, ask permission to tour sure areas — and all the time ask earlier than you employ the toilet. Compass agent Brent Chang recalled a possible purchaser who snuck into the toilet with out asking and stayed in there for half-hour.

“She lastly got here out and mentioned, ‘Dangerous sushi for lunch,’ whereas rubbing her abdomen,” Chang mentioned.

Take off the rose-colored glasses

One of many worst issues you are able to do at an open home is trick your self into pondering the place doesn’t have any issues. At an open home, the grass might be at its greenest, the home might be at its cleanest, and the crimson flags might be hidden — however not invisible.

Swap into Sherlock Holmes mode and hold an eye fixed out for basis cracks, water stains and mildew. Even be cautious of seemingly good touches. Candles in each room in all probability means the vendor is hiding a nasty scent. Recent paint on only one wall might be masking up a crack.

Open homes are an artwork, and figuring out your means round them can provide you a leg up on different patrons. For extra suggestions, inquiries to ask and different crimson flags, print out our open home guidelines to be sure to’re coated.