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Just starting to house hunt? Today we’ll go over what to expect when viewing Silicon Valley homes for sale.
First, though, if you aren’t aware, there were real estate changes a year ago in the way the home buyers and their buyer agents work together. There now must be a written agreement between them that covers compensation. The link above will bring you to an article of ours that clarifies it.
Viewing Silicon Valley homes – some basics
There will be some nuances between private showings and viewing Silicon Valley homes during an open house, but here are some basics:
- Many home sellers in the San Jose area will ask that you remove your shoes. So wearing slip ons of some kind will be a lot easier than footwear with laces, buckles, zippers etc.
- Most of the time, sellers will not be home. They wisely will clear out, when possible, to give you the space to look without feeling like you’re imposing on them. Sometimes, though, for any number of reasons, this may not happen, particularly if you’re viewing homes for sale via a private appointment.
- If sellers are home, they will usually answer the door or, worst case, respond when the agent and buyers enter and announce themselves. Once in awhile, though, there’s a surprise seller somewhere in the house. (Maybe one time in a hundred? I have run into people who were in bed, in a shower, on a couch and simply not responding.) So be alert when viewing homes, be cautious, or it could be like that scene in “E.T.” where ET and the little girl see each other and scream their lungs out.
- Pets are usually not present and loose, but again, sometimes there’s a misfire, so be on guard for dogs and cats (more likely the latter). If dogs are present and loose I usually will not show the home. I love dogs and have owned many, but they’re not all equally friendly.
- Personalization: usually sellers will have decluttered and depersonalized their homes so that you and other home buyers can “see themselves” in that space. For some sellers, particularly seniors, it can be very difficult to remove those items until the moving van is in the driveway. So be prepared to see at least some homes with an inordinate amount of stuff, whether it’s family photos, collections, religious imagery or worship space, rooms not being used for their intended purpose, and so on. In these places, you’ll need to be able to see past what’s currently there as the personal items can be confusing. For instance, I have seen family rooms used as dining rooms, dining rooms used as hobby rooms, bedrooms used as prayer or exercise rooms, garages divided into several smaller rooms (with easily removable walls), etc.
- Normally, homes are clean and pleasant to see. Sometimes with distressed properties, tenant occupied (unmotivated residents), homes with invalid residents, or other physical or emotional situations the home may be a wreck. Know that you will probably see a wide spectrum of care for the house and yard.
Viewing Silicon Valley homes for sale: dos and don’ts
What about your behavior in the home or yard? Most home buyers are very considerate but here are a couple of things to think about.
DO look carefully at the inside and outside of the home. Opening the closets or the cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom (and anywhere there are built ins) is fine. Opening dresser drawers, freestanding desks, and other things that are not staying with the house is not ok.
Do not move the sellers’ belongings, for example, if there are shoes on a crawl space access, the appointment to view the home does not include emptying the closet so that you or someone in your party can peek in the crawl space (or attic). If that kind of investigation is desired, ask your agent to seek permission from the sellers, or to ask the sellers to make a clearance.
Keep your group together. Home sellers do worry about theft, and keeping everyone in one spot will alleviate concern. This is especially true for toddlers and children. (I have seen kids go in the opposite direction as their parents and then jump on the home seller’s furniture, open drawers of furniture, etc.)
When viewing Silicon Valley homes, may you use the bathroom?
Don’t assume that you’ll be able to use the bathroom at a property for sale. Some listing agents may prohibit the toilets from being used and place large signs on them to that effect. They may even shut off the water (not advisable, as emergencies do happen). I suppose they’ve run into too many situations where a mess was left behind.
Home sellers usually understand that someone may need to use the bathroom while there, but in general, of course, they’d rather that this not happen. If you or your kids need to use the restroom, please check afterward to make sure that everything’s clean. (And if the seller is home, of course you should ask permission first.)
Making comments at the property may hurt your negotiating power
As a general rule, it’s good to keep any feedback to yourself until you have left the property (or to share it quietly so as not to be overheard).
Video cameras with audio are permitted outside. Indoors, video cameras may be present, but recording audio is not allowed. Not every homeowners knows the rules, though, so exercise caution about what you say and do. You don’t want the seller to know if you absolutely must have that home. Nor do you want the seller to be offended at picky comments and decide that you aren’t as serious as other buyers who may not have made negative comments.
It’s probably best to assume that you’re being watched and heard.
Related reading to Viewing Silicon Valley Homes:
Beware low HOA reserve accounts (on our Move2SiliconValley.com site)
What is a cripple wall? (on our popehandy.com site)
What is the difference between a duplex and a duet home? (this site)
