Last Updated on June 3, 2025
If you’re seriously considering buying a home this year, open houses can be an excellent opportunity to wade into the buying pool and get your feet wet.
Open houses can be beneficial to first-time homebuyers and those who are thinking about moving up. They’re a great way to meet local real estate agents and reacquaint yourself with the jargon of homebuying. More importantly, once you are ready to buy, open houses may be your one opportunity to ask questions directly of the listing agent.
Many questions will naturally come up as you tour the home room by room. In order to take advantage of the unique opportunities present during open houses, you should arrive prepared to ask the questions that are less obvious. Here are 9 important questions to ask at the next open house you attend.
1. How long has the home been at this price?
The answer to this question tells you two things: First, it signals how long the home has been on the market (or whether the seller has been recently motivated to sell quickly). Second, it lets you know how confident the agent is in the current price, and thus whether the price is somewhat flexible. Keep in mind that a home that has been on the market for a long time will be overlooked by many buyers, even if the price was just significantly reduced, which could mean a good opportunity for you.
2. Why do the sellers want to move?
Agents will jump at the opportunity to let you know if their sellers’ move has nothing to do with the home or neighborhood. For instance, it could be that the owner was recently promoted to the Chicago office or that they wanted to downsize after their children graduated college. On the other hand, loud neighbors, increased neighborhood crime, or other local factors could play a role in their move. In that case, it’s beneficial to ask the seller’s agent directly to gauge his or her response.
3. What is the seller’s timeline?
This question is often related to the three above, but sometimes the seller’s motivation and timeline are at odds. Are the sellers in a hurry to place a contract on the home so they can begin their own home search? Would they rather delay the closing until after the school year ends to make the move easier for their kids? Knowing their motivation could both help you with your negotiations and prevent any roadblocks down the line.
4. What issues does the house have?
A written seller’s disclosure is commonly provided to interested buyers—so if you’re interested in the home, ask for one! Asking the listing agent about issues directly may provide more useful information about the home not typically included in a disclosure. Be sure to ask about structural problems and whether that fantastic addition is up to code. This is also a good time to ask about radon tests, lead paint (if the home was built before 1978), asbestos, mold, or whether the home is in a flood zone.
Attend an open house in your area with our Twilight Open House Event--Wednesdays June 4 and 25 | July 9 and 23 | August 6 and 20
5. When was the house last updated?
It’s easy to determine whether the bathroom wallpaper and kitchen stove have been in the home for decades. What isn’t always obvious is the age of the roof and electrical systems. Ask about anything that isn’t apparent to you.
6. How much are monthly utilities?
Asking about the cost of heating in the winter and cooling in the summer tells you a lot about a home. Would replacing an old furnace potentially cut your gas bill in half? Is a lot of heat lost through the windows? Is that wonderful sun-filled office nothing but a heat trap in the summer? Especially if you’re a first-time buyer or you’re moving up to a multi-level home, the cost of utilities could make a big impact on your budget.
7. What’s the Neighborhood Like?
Are there green spaces, parks, and public amenities nearby? Can you enjoy the benefits of living near an interstate without constant traffic noise? Is this the next up-and-coming part of town filled with late-night activity? The perfect home should come with the perfect lifestyle for you.
8. Where can I get a good burger/coffee/sushi roll around here?
In addition to being experts about the home for sale, the listing agent should also be an expert in the surrounding neighborhood and community. If you’re not familiar with the area, this is a great way to learn about local watering holes or shopping centers. After the open house, try to follow the agent’s directions to the suggested spot. Don’t just use the open house to imagine yourself in the home—use it to imagine yourself in the neighborhood.
9. What will it take to buy this home?
Don’t overplay your hand here, but don’t avoid this question, either. Knowing the seller’s motivation and timeline are important to negotiations. If you’re serious about buying that particular home, this question could help shift the conversation in your favor.
6 questions buyers should answer for open house agents
Depending on how serious you are about your home search, open houses could be merely a fun experience for you. But for the open house agent, it’s a workday. Your feedback helps agents do their job well, and if you are looking to buy, it could help you along in your process.
Don’t miss out because you’re afraid of a hard sell—it’s the agent’s job to help connect you to this property. Here are six questions agents are likely to ask you during your open house visit.
- How long have you been looking?
- Are you working with an agent exclusively?
- How does this house compare to others you’ve seen?
- Are you specifically looking at this neighborhood?
- What do you think of the price?
- Are you considering making an offer on this home?
Don’t forget to attend an open house in your area with our Twilight Open House Event–Wednesdays June 4 and 25 | July 9 and 23 | August 6 and 20!
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Allen Tate is the Carolinas’ largest real estate company based on closed sales volume, with more than 70 offices and 1,800 Realtors in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Highland/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions of North Carolina and the Upstate and Low Country regions of South Carolina. Allen Tate is a partner of Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest privately held real estate broker in the United States. The full-service real estate company has 480 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow service offices and more than 15,000 sales associates and staff across 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com.
