7 Tips For Making the Most of an Open House

An important part of the home buying process is getting inside and really looking at the property, up close and personal.  Open Houses are a perfect chance to do this in a casual way.  Mission Bay hosts open houses of our beautiful lakefront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks every weekend.  

Sometimes walking into a new place can be a little intimidating, but if you do a little preparation before you go, it will make a world of difference.  Knowing what to look for and how to see it will make the entire process a little less overwhelming.  




1.  Do your homework.  

 Have an idea of what you are looking for before you go in.  Even if a house looks amazing, if it doesn't fit your living needs, then it's not right for you.  If you have children, check out the school district that it is in.  If you have furniture that you want to move into the new house, know the measurements so that you can see if your stuff will fit.  Come up with a list of questions that you want to know about your new home and the neighborhood that it is located in.  

2.  Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

You're not trying to impress anyone, so no need to get all dressed up.  Wear something comfortable, especially comfortable shoes.  You may be bending and stretching looking closely at details.  A lot of walking will also be involved and possibly stairs.  

3.  Bring some "tools"
It will be very helpful to have a tape measure, a notebook, and a camera with you.  If you are seriously interested, you will want to know a few measurements around the house.  The notebook will help you remember all of the important details that discover, as will the photos that you take.  Sometimes the photos will even show you things that you may have overlooked in person.  

4.  Ask quetions.
The realtor on site is not just there for the home seller, they are also there to help you, the buyer, get a clear picture of what they are offering.  Ask them as many questions as you need to really get to know the house you are looking at.  

5.  Don't be shy.
Open closets and drawers.  If the appliances come with the house, open those up too. The purpose of the open house is so that you can get to know what you may be buying.  This is the time to look every nook and cranny over.  If someone is currently living in the home being shown, they should expect this, but in this case it is polite to ask first.  

6.  Look outside of the home.
Take notice of what landscaping is already done and what you will have to do yourself if you buy.  Look for any areas on the exterior that may need repair.  Make sure that the adjacent lots are not too close for your comfort.  If you have a strong opinion on pets, notice if any of the neighbors have them.  Another important thing to do is look at the outside through the windows from inside.  A bad view is something that usually cannot be changed.  

7.  Listen to other buyers. 
The other buyers at the open house are there for the same reason that you are. They may notice something that you didn't, or may have some questions that you did not think to ask.  


These tips should make the entire open house experience a little more productive than just going in blind.  Buying a home is a very large, highly important purchase. Decide what you really want, and weigh all of the pros and cons of what you find out.  

Mission Bay invites you to stop by and see our incredible new housing development at the Lake of the Ozarks.  We host our open house every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 pm. You can view a site map of the entire community here, and see pictures of the properties you will be visiting on the Mission Bay website.   

    

Your new home is waiting for you at Mission Bay!

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CONTACT US

Phone: (573) 873-3465

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020