Open House Protocol for Buyers in St. Augustine, FL

Last weekend marked the state-wide Florida Association of Realtors Open House. There were more than 100's of open houses throughout all of St. Augustine in St. Johns’ County on both Saturday and Sunday. Both serious buyers and curious neighbors participated. It brings to mind some general guidelines for an open house participant:

To knock or not to knock? Knocking is generally not necessary unless there is some indication to do so. Announcing yourself is appropriate as the host may be with other lookers somewhere else within the home.

What is my obligation to the Host Agent? The host should introduce themselves and their role – agent, homeowner, etc. If you are currently working with a REALTOR, give the host your REALTOR’s card right off the bat or tell them, in which case you should not be solicited. If you are not working with an agent, this is a good opportunity to “interview” the agent sitting the house. If you sign the register, put your REALTOR’s name next to yours.

What to look for in a REALTOR? One important question to ask is “agency”, otherwise known as your working relationship with the real estate professional. Will this agent be working solely on your behalf with complete fiduciary responsibility and 100% confidentiality or will this agent be working on behalf of the transaction with limited confidentiality? As a buyer, you are entitled to a s single agency agreement. There are many other components for a successful relationship to help you purchase a home which are more detailed than this writing.

What if I have no inclination to buy? Looking is fine. The more eyes that see the home, the more it gets exposed. You may know of someone - a friend or family member that this home would be perfect for. Just tell the host that is your intention.

What if I want to make an offer? Make sure you know how the person writing up the offer will be representing you – in many cases they are not, actually. The agent at the house may only be representing the seller or be functioning as a transaction broker (represent both the buyer and seller) and will execute the transaction only.

What kind of questions should I ask? The most appropriate questions relate to issues regarding the house and the agent is required to give full disclosure.

What if I need to use the bathroom? Generally, this is not a good idea. Remember you are a guest in some one’s home and good manners always apply – no dogs, keep you kids and family members all together.

An Marshall, REALTOR

Prudential Network Realty

Extremely Full Service

www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.com
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email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com