Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

DP here and yes, I am. We made a killing in real estate so I could afford to stop working. The way I did that is by dropping everything to go see properties as soon as they came on the market, despite my very demanding job.

Yeah, well, if you were able to be "dropping everything to go see properties" your job wasn't as demanding as mine is.

You don't get it. I did this by rearranging my evenings to be able to go see houses the day they came on the market. Or the next morning before work at the latest. It's difficult to do with kids and a demanding job, but not impossible.

Bring your kids with you, rush over after you drop them off at school or an activity, or beg a favor to get them a ride to or from whatever activity. Eat sandwiches or take out for dinner.

If one of you truly has a 70+ hour week inflexible job or lots of travel, then the other spouse looks at the house and you FaceTime to one who can't be there. Then you bid without the busy spouse seeing it.

Spouse and I bought 5 homes and sold 3 by doing the above with 2 demanding jobs and 3 kids. Now we're set and I don't have to work ever again.

You can do it too if you use your brain and figure out how to make it happen like everyone else does. Or just stay on the sidelines moaning about how the sellers didn't give you a week to see it at your leisure. Your call.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

DP here and yes, I am. We made a killing in real estate so I could afford to stop working. The way I did that is by dropping everything to go see properties as soon as they came on the market, despite my very demanding job.

Yeah, well, if you were able to be "dropping everything to go see properties" your job wasn't as demanding as mine is.

You’re not as important as you think you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

DP here and yes, I am. We made a killing in real estate so I could afford to stop working. The way I did that is by dropping everything to go see properties as soon as they came on the market, despite my very demanding job.

Yeah, well, if you were able to be "dropping everything to go see properties" your job wasn't as demanding as mine is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

Don’t be an ah. Go see it first thing Saturday morning then. House-hunting in this area is a basically a second job. Go to open houses to get a feel for neighborhoods and homes in certain areas, but once you are ready to submit offers, you need to buckle down and have your realtor set up showings for you once suitable homes come on the market. Open houses are for doing your homework, not for the active buying process.

"Doing your homework" is part of "the active buying process."

To create a sense of urgency.
Builders use it to, by saying “we only have few lots left”.
“Price increases coming soon.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

DP here and yes, I am. We made a killing in real estate so I could afford to stop working. The way I did that is by dropping everything to go see properties as soon as they came on the market, despite my very demanding job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

LOL! You’re so clueless.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

This is how the market works. We took time off to see properties. If you really want the house you make the time. Only amateurs wait till the open house. Snooze you lose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

Don’t be an ah. Go see it first thing Saturday morning then. House-hunting in this area is a basically a second job. Go to open houses to get a feel for neighborhoods and homes in certain areas, but once you are ready to submit offers, you need to buckle down and have your realtor set up showings for you once suitable homes come on the market. Open houses are for doing your homework, not for the active buying process.

Anonymous wrote:Also, PP, if you have an inspection clause don’t bother. As a seller, I would absolutely avoid. Pony up the $500 and do the inspection before you offer. That’s the rules of the road.

Well, yes -- that's "the rules of the road." But I'm the PP and the house I offered on where I didn't waive inspection had a conservation easement on it that disallowed any expansion of a retaining wall that was keeping the house from sliding down a steep hill into a creek. DH and I are both lawyers -- we read the whole easement closely -- and were not going to buy without understanding the situation with the retaining wall and we are not engineers. You are wanting to explain 1+1 to people and thinking it is helpful. It's not even necessary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

We went to an open house last Sunday that was 2-4. Offers were due by 5pm. So one freaking hour after the end of the open house. We ended up scrambling to put in an offer. There were 11 of them, 6 above asking, and 3 of them all cash. We offered an escalation clause 50k above asking and ours was a cash offer but did not waive inspection -- and we didn't get the house.

You’re not supposed to see it for the first time at the open house. They list during the week, and that’s when you go. Schedule pre-inspection. The open house is for neighbors and for the agent to network with people early in the process. And maybe you go to look around one more time before you pull the trigger.

Some of us have demanding jobs?

Are you a SAHMommy or something?

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We looked at a few houses but they were under contract before we could even make a decision. We feel like we won't be able to find anything in areas we are interested in given the way things are going. Last weekend we went to an open house on Sunday. The realtor there told us that there was Offers Deadline and they were accepting offers only until 7 pm that day. They already had 5 offers. The house came up on market that Thursday. We were at the open house around 4 pm and wanted to see another upcoming house in that area. Before looking at the upcoming house, this house was already under contract.

Once a house comes up that you are interested in, go see it right away. Even if they have an open house and are accepting offers until 7PM the night of the open house, go see it Thursday night and/or Friday and then the Open House Day.

Just get everything in order and ready. Try and get a pre inspection. Yes if you don't get the house it can be a lost $500-$800, but it gives you a better idea of potential issues.