I love looking at houses in our neighborhood. It is interesting to see how each has solved various problems with our houses. I just say hi and bye to the realtor rep - no hogging time.

The houses look different when they are mostly empty.

Anonymous wrote:Nope, not a red flag. Maybe annoying, but annoying people are everywhere (including people who don't know that they're having conversations with people who are totally uninterested in what they're saying). And I'm not sure there's anything wrong with neighbors visiting to check out improvements and get ideas for improving their own houses.

It is a red flag when they monopolize the realtors time and go through closets.

We are selling our house and refuse to have an open house for this reason. The realtor agreed we don’t need one. I have cameras visible because when we had a showing before it came to market our camera outside right by our mailbox someone coming to view our house went through our mail that was in our mailbox! On camera!

We also have a floorplan and a video/walkthrough so if anyone wants to be nosey do it that way.

It’s rude. If you want to take a quick look during an open house take a quick look, sign in and then leave.

Anonymous wrote:Open Houses always attract neighbors. It's just part of the process.

I have gone to a few in my neighborhood, never pried into the closest etc or engaged the realtor much but always found ways around the potential buyers to note my interest/excitement/appreciation for the house.

I go to random open houses (I'm sort of in the market, but not super seriously) a lot but I would never waste the realtor's time talking to her a lot when there are other people there looking.

We were having a custom home built in Fairfax. I came by afterwork to check on it and the neighbors were in my house. Super rude and weird. They moved two years later.

Anonymous wrote:We always go to open houses in the neighborhood but we tell the agent upfront that we’re neighbors and just looky-loos. Then we make ourselves scarce. Many houses are similar to ours and I’ve gotten some good design ideas.

This. And I always see neighbors there. Like another poster, there are only a few designs in the neighborhood, all built in 1930s and 1940s, and it’s interesting to see how people have done expansions, built-ins, used the space etc.

We always go to open houses in the neighborhood but we tell the agent upfront that we’re neighbors and just looky-loos. Then we make ourselves scarce. Many houses are similar to ours and I’ve gotten some good design ideas.

Anonymous wrote:It happens 100% of the time. So don't let that put you off, otherwise you're never going to buy anything.

This. Every single neighbor saw the house we ended up purchasing. Mainly just curiosity - highest priced home for many years (because it was the only renovation), none had been in before. Just wanted to see.

My agent said most homes are not sold at or after open houses by the people who attend.

So, why have them?

Perhaps the point is networking that benefits the agent’s future bottom line.

Anonymous wrote:It happens 100% of the time. So don't let that put you off, otherwise you're never going to buy anything.

This.

There was once a new build one house down from me. I went in and viewed the house, but I didn't say anything or ask any questions. I was quickly in and out.

OP, that would be a red flag for me, and I'd look elsewhere.

We go to see updates that might be good for our house (there are only 5 models in the neighborhood and all are 70 years old). We want to be ready if we need to sell. We do not talk to the real estate agent when we are there. We are considerate.

I live in a neighborhood with a lot of tear downs and new construction. I’ll go see a new house sometimes when there’s an open house. I wouldn’t go look at a house that was already occupied just because it’s for sale. That seems weird.

Open Houses always attract neighbors. It's just part of the process.

I bought my house based on my friend’s recommendation. She lives in the neighborhood and saw it during the open house, and knew it was what I was looking for.