Are you looking to find a new home? Then you might soon participate in a lot of open house appointments. You may be wondering about the do's and don'ts of such appointments. One aspect to know is that it isn't wise to use the host's bathroom when touring a house during an open house. Here are some of the reasons your use of the bathroom may not be met with approval:
It May Be a Turnoff to Other Clients
The first problem with visiting the bathroom during an open house is that it may be a turn off for some clients. People are different; while you may be okay with sharing bathrooms with strangers or evaluating bathrooms that have just been used by strangers, it may not be kosher with others. Since many other people will be interested in evaluating the bathroom, its best to err on the side of caution and avoid using it.
It May Be a Turnoff to the Seller
In addition to it being a turnoff to other sellers, using the bathroom may also offend the seller's sensibilities. You don't want to be on the seller's bad books if you end up bidding for the property; you want them to like you and make them want to sell you the house. This is especially true if the sale of the property turns into a bidding war.
It May Waste Time for Other Homeowner
If the open house is well attended, then there will be many people interested in seeing that all systems in the house, including the systems in the bathroom, work as advertised. You don't want to hold them up by taking your sweet time in the bathroom. You may think that this shouldn't be a problem for a single visit to the small room, but what if everyone else reasons like you?
You May End Up Dirtying Up the Bathroom
Another problem is that you may end up dirtying the bathroom (accidentally, of course). What do you do after that; do you clean it or leave it up to the seller? You may spill water on the floor, for example, or there may be no water to flush with, in the first place (this is even worse), which can be disastrous for you if you didn't try flushing beforehand. This is even more likely with properties that haven't been occupied for some time.
Attending an open house is one of the best ways of learning more about a property for sale. You get the chance to go through the whole house without pressure because others will also be present and doing the same thing. Don't let a social faux pas deny you the chance to land a great property. Ideally, you should make a pit stop on your way to the open house and take care of your nature calls. Learn more about open houses by contacting local real estate agents.