(Top) Ten Commandments (“#6. No Free Samples”)
You wouldn’t think Realtors hosting Sunday open houses would have to instruct parents to tell their kids not to jump on the beds in the owner’s home.
Unfortunately . . . you’d be wrong.
While the vast majority of open house visitors are respectful of the “For Sale” home and its contents, a very conspicuous minority are anything but.
For that crowd (and you know who you are), herewith are Ten Commandments for what to do and (mostly) not do when visiting a Realtor open house.
1. Don’t break anything.
2. Don’t let your kids break anything.
3. If you, umm, break rule #1 or #2, ‘fess up and pay for/replace whatever was damaged — assuming it can be (memo to Sellers: probably a good idea to remove that Ming vase from the Living Room ahead of time. Ditto for valuables, prescriptions meds, etc.).
4. Take your shoes off at the front door, unless the condition of the home is so rough that that’s not a good idea (in which case, the home probably isn’t going to be held open for the public, anyways).
5. Don’t open anything (includes fridges, kitchen cabinets, medicine chests, etc.). Note: it’s legit for serious Buyers — typically during a private showing — to open closets, cupboards, etc. to verify how much storage there is.
6. Don’t take anything from the owner’s fridge, kitchen cabinets, or medicine chest (it’s called “theft,” not, “a free sample”).
7. Don’t bring anything into an open house — especially things that leave crumbs, or can spill and leave stains (why I’m not keen on offering snacks and drinks).
8. Do police your kids so that they don’t leave fingerprints everywhere.
9. Don’t go into an open house just to use the bathroom.
10. Avoid most of the above . . . by not bringing small kids along to an open house (detect a theme??).
Agents, feel free to post this on the front door.
You’re welcome . . .
