open house adventure

Today was a good day for an open house excursion, so I looked on Craigslist, found a few contenders, and drove around North and Northeast Portland on a house-hop.

Things I learned: Photographs lie. And so do desperate realtors. A house that looks okay on RMLS, and is described like this: "adorable remodeled bungalow, wonderful floorplan, a gardener's delight! Great location! Needs special owner."... would more accurately be described as such: "Using the cheapest and ugliest materials available, the previous owners slapped down some pergo flooring and slopped taupe paint on the walls of this shoebox, which sits against the on-ramp to I-5. If you are four feet tall, are unable to perceive odors, and are blind, this house may be a perfect fit!"

I saw six houses, and they all weren't so bad, but some of them really were.

Other tips (I promise they won't be so laden with sarcasm):
* Before you see an open house, it's a good idea to be working with a realtor. Or, at the very least, be prepared to say you are. Otherwise, expect the listing agent to court you. Many agents will ask you to sign the sign-in sheet, and give them your personal information (phone number, address, etc.) I politely declined, and, in the case of a particularly pushy listing agent, left a fake name and contact info. (It can be fun to make up a house-hunting altar-ego.)

* Ask educated questions, but play it cool. How old is the furnace? When did they have the roof replaced? Are all of the bedrooms egressed? Ask about insulation. If you really, really love a property, try to avoid screeching gleefully within earshot of the listing agent. (But by all means, call your buyer's agent immediately and go for a viewing with them.)

* Pay attention. Is the neighbor's dog barking incessantly? Can you hear people yelling from across the street? Are you so taken by the fireplace that you ignore the water damage on the ceiling? What is the condition of the windows? Does the listing agent seem like a genuinely nice person, or a phony? What would it be like to maneuver in the kitchen? Are the improvements you'd like to make on the place something you can do yourself, or would they require expensive renovations? Figure out what matters to you, and whether this place has your kind of vibe.

Open houses are a great educational tool for any potential homebuyer, because they give a sense of how much house you can expect to buy at a certain price range in a certain neighborhood. If you, like me, are working with a limited budget, expect that you might feel somewhat let down by the reality of what you see. I have an image of the sort of place I'd like to find, and even though three months ago, at the onset of my house-hunting, I didn't think my expectations were very high, I have learned that I will need to lower the bar a little. And that's okay, I am letting some of my "needs" go, and holding on to other ideals that I'm not willing to compromise on.

Remember, this is a process (this is what I'm telling myself over and over again, when I tire and lose patience). Soon, you'll have your own little house full of character and error and quirks and imperfections, just like you.