We had a totally different experience. We were looking at two new houses, each between $1.5 and $2.0 million, being built in NoVa a few years ago. Each had been on the market for a while, and we liked each of them for different reasons. In each case, the builder and/or the selling agent told us where we could find the keys and let us visit the houses repeatedly unescorted. Must have seen each house five or six times, and it really helped us decide to be able to walk around the houses without any agent or builder yammering away. Guess we seemed legit.

If you're looking at a property that's in a market segment where the inventory is tighter, can see why you'd have a very different experience.

One time.

We were house shopping this spring. The first two houses we offered on, we made an offer after seeing the house just once. (We did not get either house.) Our third offer was on a house that we had first seen at a open house before we were ready to make any offers. We went back and looked at it again about 2 months later. And then it was a few weeks later before we made an offer. I don't recommend that approach though unless you are dealing with a rather unique property or one that isn't too likely to get grabbed up quickly.

We lost more than one house we liked (but did not love) because we took too much time making up our mind.

I just bought a new place (my 2nd) and I saw the house in the morning at the open house. I had already seen 57 houses so I had a pretty strong sense of "THIS IS IT." So I called my realtor and my daughter's dad (whose opinion I trust a lot) and saw the house again that evening, after which we made the offer. I also saw my 1st house twice in the same day before making an offer. I'm decisive, and my first house was bought in a multiple-offer situation and my second house had just had a price drop which made me suspect I should move quickly. Everyone I know thinks I did well on both houses, so hey. The people who bought my first house from me only saw it once and offered 2 hours later, which surprised me.

If you are looking in a hot market, you need to be sure about what you need/want so you can offer right away. If you are looking in a farther out suburb, stuff can sit longer so you can hem and haw a little more.

Anonymous wrote:Just once. We knew our budget and new how rare a listing in our budget came on the market in the neighborhood we selected, so it met our needs and we offered right away. We felt great afterwards becasue an entire year passed and nothing else came on the market in that price range.

Our exact situation too. We put in an offer immediately after seeing it (which was an hour after it was listed), as we knew it would sell asap. We knew what we wanted and where and knew there was little inventory in this neighborhood. And we wanted the offer accepted before there was an open house. As it was, there was still one competing bid.

Been here a year and love everything about our house and neighborhood.

I came once with our realtor and saw the outside of the house and yard only (key wasn't in the lockbox). DH and I came back together once, were pretty sure this was for us, and I came back solo to an open house the following weekend. We made an offer after that.

2 times for us. 1-2 is the norm, I think. I look at other things I purchase way more times! But really, what more do you need to see? Drive around the neighborhood, look at the neighbors yards, etc. But there usually aren't many houses to choose from when you're looking and the good ones go fast.

Although the market has cooled down in some areas, correctly priced housed in desirable neighborhoods in this ares still go quickly. If you wait to see a house 4-5 times in a 3 week span, you may miss yoru window. And going to see it 4-5 times in one week might not endear you to the sellers, which isn't a great idea, especially if they're going to get multiple offers.

Just once. We knew our budget and new how rare a listing in our budget came on the market in the neighborhood we selected, so it met our needs and we offered right away. We felt great afterwards becasue an entire year passed and nothing else came on the market in that price range.

Anonymous wrote:We've bought two homes and we made offers on both after one viewing. We'd seen enough homes each time to know what we were looking for. Once we saw it, we had to pounce, as both homes we've purchased have been on the market for a week or so.

Same here. Neither time was the house my 'dream home' but we knew we would be happy with it.

Ditto for us. When we looked at our current house for the first time, my DH and I just looked at each other like "this is it!" You just know.

We've bought two homes and we made offers on both after one viewing. We'd seen enough homes each time to know what we were looking for. Once we saw it, we had to pounce, as both homes we've purchased have been on the market for a week or so.

One time. We had looked at a lot of house prior. Believe me, you really will know when you find the right house.

We're looking for our first home and it seems like the norm is to make an offer after 2 viewings. I know we'd see it again on various walk-thrus or inspections but I can't imagine deciding on a house that quickly. Did it happen that way for you?