My article for the Tennessee Tribune June 19 -25, 2008

On any given Sunday in Nashville, hundreds of Nashvillians flock to open houses to see what their neighbors’ homes look like or to look at a home they have been interesting in buying but hesitant to contact a real estate agent about. An open house is when the general public is able to view a home that is for sale without an appointment. An open house is a great way to look for a home because it allows a buyer to view a property without making prior arrangements. It also allows a seller of a property to maximize their market exposure by allowing a wide variety of prospective buyers to visit the home with a real estate professional that knows the property and neighborhood very well. Typically during an open house, the seller’s agent will give a guided tour of the home and answer any questions about the home and the neighborhood. Below are six tips for buyers looking to find their next home during an open house.

1. Look for open houses in your area.

Open houses are usually advertised in the Sunday paper and on the internet. Crye-leike.com, realtor.com and realtracs.com are great resources to use to locate open houses in the Middle Tennessee area.

2. Have a game plan.

Make a list of the homes you would like to visit and know the route you will be using to maximize the time you will have during peak open house times. Open houses in Davidson and surrounding counties usually occur on Sunday’s between 2-5 p.m.

3. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions.

The real estate agent working during the open house is there to answer any questions you may have about the property. Use them at your disposal; don’t be afraid to ask any question even if you think it’s a silly question.

4. Have a pre-approval letter with you.

I cannot stress the importance of being pre-approved for a home loan prior to searching for a home. Having a pre-approval letter will help you search for homes in your price range and you know what your monthly payment will be prior to writing an offer on a home.

5. Have your real estate agent on speed dial.

If you are working with a real estate agent let them know what homes you will be visiting and ask if they will be willing to meet you at that home to write an offer if you find one you love during an open house.

6. Done be afraid to make and offer.

If you fall in love with a home you visit during an open house, be prepared to write an offer on the home. A lot of effort is put into preparing a home for an open house. A seller will be more inclined to accept an offer less than the asking price if received the day of the open house.

Denise J. Beard is a Real Estate Broker with Crye-Leike, Realtors in Nashville, serving the Middle Tennessee area. She can be reached at 615-373-3456 or at www.denisejbeard.com. If you have a real estate question or a topic that you would liked covered, please e-mail Denise at denise@denisejbeard.com.