How Many Times Should You See a House Before You Buy? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Times Should You See a House Before You Buy? ›

Ideally, four to six viewings should be sufficient. Attending two to three visits inside, with a realtor and/or appraiser, and another two to three visits scouting the house and neighborhood independently, from the outside, may be a good approach.

You could show the house just once or a handful of times and receive multiple offers. Or, your home could be on the market for six months or more, leading to several dozen showings. However, real estate experts estimate that the typical house will be shown somewhere between 10 and 25 times.

The average home buyers will visit 10 homes over 10 weeks' time before they find “the one”—that special place that inspires an offer. But that number can vary widely: Some may fall in love with the first place they see, while others feel compelled to check out several dozen.

So when you see what you like, go for it! “If a buyer knows what's out there and what they want, then they should make the offer right away,” says Chris West, a real estate broker and owner of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty in Newport, RI. “You never know who else is interested, and you could miss out.”

It typically takes anywhere from four weeks at the low end to six months (or more) to shop for and close on a house. But it can be quicker if you make a strong offer right away in a fast-moving market or slower if you have a hard time finding just the right place or keep getting outbid.

How many times to look at a house before buying? Ideally, four to six viewings should be sufficient. Attending two to three visits inside, with a realtor and/or appraiser, and another two to three visits scouting the house and neighborhood independently, from the outside, may be a good approach.

How many viewings should you expect overall? On average you should expect 10 viewings overall, but hot market sellers may see more than 20 viewings per property, while cold markets can peak at around 15. However, averages don't work for everyone and plenty of people sit outside the typical trend so this may vary.

“As the number of days on the market increases, so can the need for price adjustments.” Shin advises making no more than three price reductions. “Any more than three will cause buyers to think something is wrong with the property,” she says. The amount you should reduce your asking price requires careful consideration.

Southern California, and the nation as a whole, is experiencing record low inventory which means finding the perfect house can take some time. According to data from the National Association of Home Builders, two-thirds of homebuyers searched for more than 3 months before going under contract on a home.

What is the busiest day of the week for house showings? ›

What day of the week do most house showings occur? Sunday is the day of the week with the most home showings.

“The rule I've always followed is to never go more than 25% below the listed price,” he says. “Chances are, after fees, commission, and sentimental value, the sellers are already hurting. If you dip below that point, they may disregard your offer entirely.”

It's possible to back out of a house offer. The key to walking away smoothly is to include contingencies in your home purchase contract. If you follow the timelines outlined in your home purchase agreement, you can likely walk away without any financial consequences.

List prices for homes are generally lower during the winter. However, inventory is usually lower in winter, which will decrease the number of available houses on the market. Home sellers are generally willing to negotiate, and you may get the home for a lower price.

In real estate, the 5-year rule typically refers to the length of time homeowners should aim to stay in their homes to turn a profit when they sell. It typically takes homeowners 5 years to build enough equity to benefit from property appreciation and recoup their initial home buying expenses, like closing costs.

“It's common for homes to remain on the market for several weeks or even months, depending on the local market conditions,” says Gharpande. During the second week your home's for sale, you can expect to continue getting requests for showings. So while it's difficult, keep your house tidy and uncluttered.

Up against multiple offers, home buyers may have to face some heartache before they win out on “the one.” Sixty-two percent of real estate professionals say their first-time home buyers typically had to put in four or more offers before closing on a home, according to Assurance IQ, an insurance provider.

In summary, pricing, condition, marketing, feedback, and competition all impact your ability to convert showings into offers. By making strategic improvements in these key areas, you can maximize your home's appeal to finally secure a buyer.

While some sellers may be willing to accept the first offer if it meets their asking price and terms, others may wait to see if they receive more competitive offers. Additionally, some sellers may be more motivated to sell quickly and may accept the first offer they receive.

For example, let's say you see similar homes being sold for $10,000 to $15,000 less than the asking price of your potential home. If you're in a buyer's market, it's probably safe to make an offer $10,000 below the asking price.