An open house could be just your ticket to finding your perfect home. Whether you are just beginning to look or you are a serious buyer ready to commit, open houses are a great opportunity for you to shop around and determine what your wants and needs are while staying in your price point.

Here is some insight on the benefits of attending open houses from a few Long & Foster agents.

Get an idea of what you want without any added pressure or commitment. Buying a home is a big decision and an even bigger investment. If you’re in the market to buy a new home, open houses provide a great way to look at inventory, compare pricing and determine exactly what you want, suggests Lisa Leven Kahn, a real estate agent in Long & Foster’s Haverford, Pennsylvania, office. What are your must-have features? What is your price point? “Open houses are a good way for buyers to get warmed up,” adds Gary Ditto, a real estate agent in Long & Foster’s Bethesda Gateway office in Bethesda, Maryland.

View homes for sale at your convenience. Open houses provide a convenient means for buyers to shop around without scheduling an appointment. Avoid late evening showings in the dark by attending daytime open houses, recommends Andy Alderdice, a real estate agent in Long & Foster’s Bethesda All Points office in Bethesda, Maryland. You can come and go as you please, while viewing the homes in their best natural light.

Get a feel for the neighborhood. From scoping out the local schools to meeting visiting neighbors, open houses are an opportunity to explore the neighborhood of the homes you’re interested in. According to Ditto, neighbors will frequently engage in conversation and provide valuable information about the neighborhood. It is a great time to ask questions.

Find a local real estate agent. If you’re unrepresented, open houses provide an outlet for you to meet various real estate agents in your area. If you are already represented, be sure to tell the real estate agent who is hosting the open house and provide them with your real estate agent’s contact information.

If you are in the market to buy a home, your local real estate agent can help you get started. They can provide you with a list of open houses in your area and show you additional homes for sale, so you can shop around until you find your perfect home. Get a head start by using the open house search on LongandFoster.com – you can view homes in your area with an upcoming open house scheduled.