It is very common, the agent knows many are looky loos, it goes with the open houses, come one come all. If I'm not in the market, I tell the agent I'm just looking, but ready to buy. I've met agents that I know I'd work with in the future.

I don't. Much as I'm curious about local real estate I don't find I need to go to open houses to check it out. I can see more than enough through the listing photos, virtual tours and google satellite view. For me it's much like bricks and mortar shopping vs. Amazon - no need to drive around looking for what I'm shopping for and no need to drive around to open houses to see local (or even distant) real estate.

I did go to a few open houses when I was starting to think about moving but even then it was kind of a waste of time. I could accomplish much more by looking online.

yes, I do. Sometimes. Uplifts my mood..:) And I like to keep an eye on the market too. For many reasons. some vague plans, etcetera.

I don't think it's a "no-no"..both sellers and agents know some people will be "lookie loos". But hey, maybe they'll fall in love/will like the agent so much that will contact him in the future/mention the house to their friends-and friends will be interested..many things can happen. Open house is a calculated risk like that..

What I do though-I'm honest about me just looking..whether it's for educating myself about the market, or looking for friends that might be interested, or whatever it might be. Say I plan to go to some open house tomorrow, and if I do-I'll be honest and say I just want to see it because it's beautiful.

As a seller-it irritates of course when people are not serious, but irritates even more when they invent reasons..you know from the agen't feedback when they invent reasons, or were just curious. I'd rather they honestly say they're just curious. It's understandable. Houses can be fascinating.

And it happened twice to us that we picked agents because we saw them on open houses, and liked them. One agent we asked to be our agent the same day..bought with her help a place the next week. Not the one she was manning. Another agent, we contacted in a few years after meeting her, So our just-looking was very beneficial to her in the end

(btw if we knew then financial ways to swing it we'd buy that house from her the first time we saw her...Even though we were "just looking". So. You never know))

We also sold to people who saw our place during an open house.

we also bought the current place after seeing it when open house

So, When they do an open house-that's exactly the hopes. Some people will just look. Some people will struggle to like it but won't happen. Some will love it but will be still wrong for them. And some will arrive just to look and then will start thinking.

And several might be interested enough and the house will get 10 offers))

So they'd be fine with other 20 that didn't put their offer in, you know?

Of course one wants to be very respectful. needless to say -my shoes are always off even if they say it's okay to leave them, never I open any cupboard (well I don't even if I'm a serious buyer unless the house is vacant), never I comment on anything unless want to express admiration, never I take agent's time unless he's bored to death and wants to chat..

Absolutely! And I quickly identify myself as a "nosey neighbor". It helps me get a feeling for what's out there, its cost and how it compares to my own home.

Hmmm. I was happy when a lot of people showed up for my open house; someone interested might feel pressured by all the "interest", so I would rather not have people identify themselves as looky loos, as least not in ear shot of other potential buyers.

I used to when I first moved to this neighborhood. At that time, a house like mine was renovated and/or added onto, so it was interesting to see potentially what could be done.

Fast forward twenty years, the house now is knocked down and rebuilt three times the size. I really do not have interest in seeing these homes.

I do like to peruse online. I like to keep up with the rental market as that is a fantasy of ours. To rent our house and head someplace else.

Good point, Indigo Rose. Be honest, but don't bring harm lol

As an agent, I am fine with looky loos... who knows...maybe you will run into someone in the market and mention what a nice house it is. Just be upfront with the agent, and tell them that you aren't in the market but just like to see different house designs. That way they don't feel obligated to follow up with you, or guilty if they need to abandon you for a real prospect.

I only went to open houses when I was looking to buy, and only looked at the houses within my budget range. I have a lot of things to do on the weekends, taking care over 1000 roses is one of the things on the list.......now I found my dream country property, just started moving some roses from suburbs to the countryside, digging all the holes, don't have the time to be nosy. :-)