Etiquette When Viewing A Home With A Realtor

If you are in the market for a new home, chances are you will be dealing with a realtor. Part of their job is to search for homes that suit your specific wants and needs. Once they have compiled a list, they will organize a time to meet with you to view the selected dwellings.

Even though you will likely never meet the people selling the home, it is still very important to be considerate of their space and respect their privacy. In this article, we will review the etiquette rules you need to follow when viewing a home with a realtor.

What Should You Wear When Viewing Homes? 

Although houses do not have a dress code, you should still take a few minutes to choose appropriate apparel. You may not be taken seriously by your realtor if you show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. Wearing comfortable clothes that fit in the semi-casual range is a safe choice (think a collared shirt and dark-wash jean, for a start).

Be sure to wear socks. Most homes will require you to remove your footwear as soon as you enter. Walking around in bare feet is not only unsanitary but also unsightly. If you do not like walking around in socks, you can bring a clean pair of slippers to wear inside the home.

Want to improve your style? Read our article 15 Simple Ways To Improve Your Personal Style for some helpful tips.

Arrive To Your Showing On Time 

Be sure to arrive to your showing on time, and ideally 15 minutes early. Although you cannot enter the home until the scheduled showing time, you can discuss topics like the neighbourhood, market status, and key details about the home with your realtor outside. Once inside, you may be asked to sign in to a guest book, confirming that the viewing took place.

If you are running late, inform your realtor as soon as possible. Being a few minutes late to your showing is not the end of the world, but if you are at least 15 minutes late, discuss re-scheduling with your realtor.

Do You Have To Remove Your Shoes During A House Showing?

Unless stated otherwise, you should always remove your shoes as soon as you enter someone else's home. This is a big sign of respect for the current homeowner, especially if the ground outside the home is muddy or wet.

Touring the home in socks or clean slippers is always preferred as many people who are selling their home will spend extra time cleaning it before a showing. Removing your shoes at the front door greatly reduces the amount of dirt being tracked through the house. Muck can be difficult to clean if it gets worked into the carpet.

Respect The Sellers Privacy And Boundaries 

Remember that the home you are looking at is not your home. Someone still lives there. So be considerate of their boundaries and respect their privacy. Opening closets and pantries to see how big they are is fine, but do not rummage through dressers, nightstands, or medicine cabinets.

Refrain from using the washrooms or helping yourself to snacks unless the current homeowner has left out a treat.

Keep Your Hands To Yourself 

When walking through someone's home, remember to keep your hands to yourself. Rearranging furniture, handling valuables, or touching fabrics is generally frowned upon. You will be expected to pay for any damages should something break.

Ask Permission Before Taking Photographs Or Videos Of The Home 

If you want to take a photograph or video of something inside the home, be sure to ask for permission from the realtor first. Most realtors are fine with photos and videos as long as they are for personal reference only. Do not post anything online.

What Are You Allowed To Test During A Showing? 

Turning on lights, run a sink, or flushing a toilet during a viewing is perfectly acceptable. Ensuring these items work can sometimes be the deciding factor on whether a house sells or not. A burnt-out lightbulb is not a big deal, but seeing sparks whenever you flick a switch is definitely a fire hazard and should be noted.

Checking appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers is off limits during the initial walkthrough. So is running water for a shower or tub. These will be thoroughly inspected and tested during a home inspection.

If an appliance is not functioning properly, it is up to the home owner to repair it prior to the sale or to reduce the price by what it would cost to repair or replace the appliance.

Keep Negative Comments To Yourself

Keep any negative comments to yourself. Especially if it pertains to personal items or decorating choices. Perhaps you are not a fan of the décor in the living room or the colour of wallpaper in a bedroom. That is fine. After all, it is not your home. People have different tastes and different ideas of how to decorate.

If the layout or features are not what you are looking for, inform your realtor and be specific. Inform the realtor what is most important to you and see if they have a home that can accommodate. Not every house will check every box on your want list.

With cameras and active security systems common both outside and inside homes, it is best to assume you are being recorded while on someone else's property. Be professional and respectful while viewing their home.

Key Questions To Ask Your Realtor While Viewing A Home

Here is a list of thoughtful questions to ask your realtor while walking through a house:

• How long has the house been on the market?

• Have there been any offers?

• What year was the home built?

• Have there been any renovations or updates?

• What is the neighbourhood like? What are some of the local hotspots?

• What schools are nearby and what is transit like?
  

Summary 

Viewing someone's home is not something most people do on a daily basis. Bookmark or save this article so you can quickly refer to it when you are ready to look at some homes with a realtor.

This article was written with the help of our good friend and supporter, Jesse Lindbeck. Jesse is the co-founder of Peak Real Estate Group. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, and with five years in the real estate business, Jesse is a wealth of information for homes in the Calgary and surrounding area.

If you live in Calgary or area and need a real estate agent, contact him through the Peak Real Estate Group website!

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