Aside from providing a relaxing and fun way to spend a Saturday morning, the main purpose of open houses is to expose the home to the marketplace, and they have a whole laundry list of benefits for both buyers and sellers.

For the casual buyer who may not be looking to lock down a property in the immediate future, itB次元官网网址檚 a great way to get a feel for the marketplace and see whatB次元官网网址檚 available.

Open houses in your price range can also give you a good idea which features on your wish list youB次元官网网址檙e likely to get, and which you may have to negotiate around.

When youB次元官网网址檝e figured out what you want and done some research, actually visiting a house B次元官网网址済ives you a much broader, fuller picture of what the property has to offer,B次元官网网址� says Rick Hoogendoorn of Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 get a real feel for a property just by looking online. When you go to an open house, you can see whatB次元官网网址檚 around the home, whatB次元官网网址檚 across the street.B次元官网网址�

Questions to have in mind could be: What kind of amenities are nearby? Is the neighbourhood in a good area for walking or cycling? How close is the next door neighbourB次元官网网址檚 house to the property? Are there any strata or condo restrictions to be aware of? Compare favourable photos from online listings with reality.

B次元官网网址淚 always recommend my clients write down details about things that they like and didnB次元官网网址檛 like about the house,B次元官网网址� says Corie Meyer, realtor with Pemberton Holmes. B次元官网网址淢ake notes about each and every house you visit, so you can have a better recollection at the end.B次元官网网址� Depending on how many open houses youB次元官网网址檙e walking through, the specifics can become a blur and make it more difficult to narrow down your choices.

Meyer also recommends going to open houses with your realtor. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good to have your own representation going through,B次元官网网址� she says. The realtor hosting the open house is there for the sellerB次元官网网址檚 benefit, so having your own professional at hand can point out possible challenges with the house, and make sure some of the trickier questions get asked.

If you do decide to just browse some open houses on your own, be up front if youB次元官网网址檙e already working with someone.

B次元官网网址淏e aware that every realtor is going to ask you if you have a realtor,B次元官网网址� says Hoogendoorn. B次元官网网址淚f they know you already have someone, it takes some of the pressure off.B次元官网网址�

Though there are multiple benefits to both hosting and attending an open house, itB次元官网网址檚 important to note there can be one or two drawbacks as well.

B次元官网网址淲hen you look at the ad for an open house, itB次元官网网址檚 often just a simple advertisement, so itB次元官网网址檚 rare that thereB次元官网网址檚 a match for a buyer through an open house,B次元官网网址� says Hoogendoorn. Open houses, unless previously researched, are often a B次元官网网址渞andom hit,B次元官网网址� and are unlikely to have everything a buyer is looking for in a home.

Still, itB次元官网网址檚 a good way to become familiar with the marketplace, especially if the buyer can be patient. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about finding the match,B次元官网网址� he says.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com

Q: WHAT KINDS OF VIEWS ADD THE MOST TO A HOMEB次元官网网址橲 VALUE?

Can staging help remove some of the guesswork for potential buyers?

Staging can take time, energy and money, but you donB次元官网网址檛 get a second chance to make a first impression. If you decide on an open house, staging your home may be a consideration.

If youB次元官网网址檙e already out of your home and have removed all furniture, it might be the difference between a buyer walking by to the next home, or signing the dotted line.

If you already have furniture in your home it may be an unwelcome feeling to stage your home or change what you have grown to love for someone else. However, looking at your home from the buyers perspective and not your own can save you dollars. Consider both the cost of staging, and the cost of your first price drop if you donB次元官网网址檛 sell for what you originally want, as a factor when making your decision.

Staging automatically forces you to de-clutter your home and pack up some of what you will have to pack up anyway when you move. And taking on the work of staging may make that moving day come sooner than you think.

GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE 禄 Month ending OCT. 31/14 COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD

禄 602 / 512 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL,  OCT. 2013

禄 945 / 979 -- NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL,  OCT. 2013

禄 3,927 / 4,322 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL,  OCT. 2013