sponsored post by Lauren Hruby and Scott DeVouton
Kansas City offers a wide range of living styles. A Midtown Georgian Revival. A Brookside Mediterranean. A Waldo Tudor. A Plaza Condo. A River Market Loft. Anyone curious about different neighborhoods and different styles of living, can see first hand by attending an open house.
Finding open houses is easy. Every major brokerage has a mobile app (our app can be found on our website), and you can always search the web. Open houses let you see what is available in every part of town. They are usually on Saturday or Sunday, from 1-4. Thursdays and Fridays are great times to check for upcoming open houses. Explore homes in different price ranges; homes at, above and below your comfortable price range. Knowing what you can get in a particular area is informative and varies from neighborhood to neighborhood.
We love open houses. They are a great way to meet people and share knowledge of specific homes and areas. The more questions, the better! Realtors help and educate, selling the area as well as the home. If an agent seems knowledgeable or you connect with him or her, go with it. When you are serious about buying, you’ll want someone on your side, an advocate in the market. Use the open house as a way to interview agents who might represent you as a buyer.
All are welcome at open houses – “looky-loos,” neighbors, folks from different parts of town, as well as serious buyers. Realtors are in the business of making connections. Take advantage of their time and expertise!
If you are not ready or simply do not want to speak with an agent, you should never feel obligated to give out contact information. A good realtor will not pressure and will make you feel comfortable giving as much or as little information as you like.
The market has a low inventory now, so open houses are seeing high traffic. If you do not know the area well, or are an open house novice, listening and watching other guests can tell you a lot. It’s often easy to overhear comments on price, condition and the area. Do people come in and come out without spending much time? Not a great sign. Are folks hanging around, looking in closets, spending time in the basement, asking specific questions? Good sign! Prospective buyers aren’t going to waste their time at a listing if they feel it’s priced too high.
There is much to see all over the KC metro, and now is a great time to explore. Open houses provide a first hand experience. If you are just curious or ready to buy right now, spend some time at an open house this weekend. Make a game plan for the day. Compile a list of areas and properties that you are interested in, make a route, then go!
Lauren and Scott are with Lauren Hruby Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty Key Partners, LLC. They work with people looking to sell or buy a home in the Kansas City area. For more information, visit www.laurenhruby.com or call 816-529-6174.
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