Attending Open Houses for Fun

[twodoor2]

I've been attending open houses each weekend, even though we just got a contract on a house. I go to open houses for homes around the same style and period as my house, so that I can get an idea of how to do inexpensive updates. I've seen lots with painted fireplaces and wood paneling, which is what I have to do, and I've been impressed with that type of inexpensive update. I also like to go because many of these open houses are overpriced, and I get a good feeling knowing what a good value my current house contract is.

I do give feedback to the realtor, both positive as well as negative, so hopefully my showing up isn't in vain for them. There was one house for example, that had the worst landscaping, and the exterior needed lots of work. The inside was beautiful and it didn't look like the same house if you compared the inside with the outside. I told the realtor that the owner really needs to work on the curb appeal and landscaping, otherwise, if it weren't an open house, I probably wouldn't bother seeing it because a badly maintained exterior often matches the interior. She seemed to appreciate the feedback.

[BostonMike7]

I've been going to open houses since August. Probably toured 30-40 houses by now. I'm not sure I would say i'm having fun, but we have gone to a couple we knew we wouldn't like just to get a feel for a comp. I've been tracking what properties were listing for, price changes, and what the eventually sell for.

At this point, i'm getting sick of open houses. I'm not sure i'd go for "fun" but I do notice at plenty of the crowded ones I've gone to that there are some obvious people there for just a tour. Mostly neighbors and such.