Explore Open Houses In Calgary & Home Tour Insights
There is almost always an open house happening in Calgary, no matter the season! We have seen them on the hottest summer days, the coldest winter ones, and even on special holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day! While most open houses tend to take place on Saturdays and Sundays, you might also spot a few mid week, especially during the summer months. So, if you are out walking or driving on a Wednesday and notice an open house sign, don't assume it has been forgotten, it could be a busy agent working hard to showcase a home. If you have got a few minutes to spare, it might be worth a quick detour to check it out! Active Open Houses In Calgary
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To make your open house experience even easier, we have upgraded our Calgary real estate MLS® website to offer more detailed information than ever before. You can now easily filter upcoming open houses by community, so whether you are exploring your current neighborhood or dreaming of a new one, it is a breeze to see what is available.
When you visit an open house, don’t hesitate to ask the agent questions! Whether it is about the home's history, the neighborhood, or any potential upgrades. Getting the full picture will help you make an informed decision. Ready to start your open house tour?
Take a look at our helpful guide here: Visitor's Guide to Open Houses in Calgary.
Want to stay in the loop on all upcoming open houses? Sign up for notifications on our site, and we will send you updates based on your favorite communities or specific criteria. You will never miss an opportunity to tour an open house and maybe even the home of your dreams!
Found an Open House Sign but No One Is Home?
If you have arrived at an open house only to find it is not actually open, don’t worry, you are not alone! This can happen when agents accidentally leave signs up, or sometimes they cancel the open house but forget to update the listing in the Calgary Real Estate Board MLS® system. This can leave online shoppers, like you, seeing outdated details with incorrect dates and times.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is simply give us a call! We will be happy to arrange a private showing at your convenience. There is no pressure from us, we are here to help you with all your home buying needs, offering valuable insights and resources about Calgary’s real estate market.
Call our team at 587-578-7653, and let us find the perfect home for you, at a time that works for your schedule!
View virtual open house tours in Calgary on YouTube and experience a virtual walk through with some of our listings!
The Open House Visit
There are typically two ways a visitor will find an open house, either online (through websites, realtor app, our website) or through street signage on the day of the open house. One of the biggest mistakes we see is visitors who don't connect or chat with the agent at the home. This is a perfect opportunity to engage with an expert, discuss your needs, ask questions, find out more details about the house, learn about homes, and become informed. Truly there is no obligation for you to give the agent anything for this. It is no secret though, agents love hosting open houses as it delivers prospective buyers right into their 'home' offices and they're given ample opportunities to pitch the home and their services, but we call this doing their job.
Another mistake we often find in an open house are the quick browsers, typically an open house lasts at least two hours and yet we often find visitors coming in and out in under two minutes! Due to the nature of an open house (mainly it not ever being a private showing to you exclusively) viewers will often feel the pressures and hurry their visits and experience of a home. It may feel awkward to be in another person's home, but they were expecting you so take your time, focus on what you came to find out and don't feel pressured to leave right away.
Some great questions we recommend that you ask agents when visiting an Open House.
Things to consider before visiting an open house
There are a few other things to consider before visiting an open house in Calgary, what you say to the agent, can really hurt and be used against you, remember, the agent sitting in the open house is typically the listing agent, or is directly connected to the sellers in some way, this means that they’ve likely formed a relationship with them, and if you’re visiting an open house without your agent, or spill your guts about how much you love the property, it could come back to haunt you in negotiations, taking away a lot of your bartering power.
An example of this we’ve seen: One of our clients visited an open house when they first bought a home many years ago, they spoke with the agent about the home in depth, the agent took an interest in them and asked questions, seeming to be very genuine in their interest of our clients situation, during the discussions, our client disclosed that they fell in love with the home, and that they had just received a windfall of money and we’re going to have no problem obtaining financing for the property, and that they were in a big rush as they had ended their lease and needed to move right away. The client at the time wasn’t aware of agency relationships, nor the process of buying a home and when they decided to put an offer in, they used a friend who was licensed, ultimately their initial offer was turned down and the negotiations were tight, the agent quoted and used the situation they discovered about these clients against them for his clients benefit. They learned a valuable lesson and would not be so forthcoming in future discussions with agents who aren't contracted to represent them.
These clients made three big mistakes, they disclosed their financial position, their timing, and their motivations, two of which are directly negotiable in the contract (purchase price and possession date)
Open Houses: A Valuable Opportunity for Buyers and Agents
While many consumers may perceive open houses as a tool to directly sell a property, the reality is that homes often don’t sell solely from open house events. Instead, open houses are frequently used by agents as a way to connect with potential buyers and generate leads. Given that attracting new buyers can be costly, open houses offer a valuable opportunity to engage with individuals who are actively interested in the market.
Next time you attend an open house, it’s a great idea to engage with the listing agent and ask insightful questions. You might consider inquiring about the seller’s motivations for selling, the current market dynamics, or any important details about the property. However, keep in mind that agents are bound by confidentiality agreements with their clients. Unless the agent has written permission from the seller, they may not be able to share specific personal or financial details. It’s always good to understand the agent’s role in the transaction and to ask questions that are within the scope of what they can disclose.
Why Hiring a REALTOR® is a Smart Choice for Your Home Search
Having a dedicated Calgary real estate agent by your side can be incredibly valuable during your home search. As a buyer, you typically won't incur any costs for the agent’s services, as their commission is usually covered by the seller. Your agent will act as your advocate throughout the process, offering expert guidance in navigating the local market, understanding contracts, and handling negotiations, all while prioritizing your best interests.
We believe that transparency is key in today's Calgary real estate market. Consumers deserve to have all the relevant information at their fingertips, particularly when working with experienced professionals. Top performing real estate teams are equipped to assist clients with a range of scenarios, including helping you find and evaluate open houses available in Calgary’s dynamic market.
Have you had any experiences, positive or negative, with open houses in Calgary? We would love to hear your story! Share your thoughts in the comments below, and you might be featured in one of our upcoming blog posts that highlights the ups, downs, and unique stories from the world of real estate.
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