Jack Conway open houses are back on the schedule this spring under COVID-19 orders still in force by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Showings and open houses must be limited to ten people at time and social distancing guidelines must be followed.
You can browse Jack Conway’s weekly open houses on our website.
Adding a community tour to an open house viewing is an ideal way to get to know an area. Even if you already live in Greater Boston or on Cape Cod, you may not be familiar with communities where open houses are held. One recent homebuyer who bought a home in Kingston, for example, told us that her family was new to the South Shore even though they had lived in the Boston-area for over 30 years.
Here’s how to add a community tour to a morning or afternoon open house. Schedule about two hours or so before or after your open house appointment for the following activities.
Explore the Community
Even a short drive through a community will give a you a general idea of what it’s like to live there. Drive through the community and find the town hall, police station, public library, post office, and high school. Take note of the condition of paved roads, where sidewalks are, and whether the community has designated bike paths.
Of course, you can look up community services and businesses on Google Maps, but seeing things in real life gives you the best perspective. On your driving tour, look for grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, community centers, and recreational facilities.
Walk Through the Town Center
Use your open house visit to walk through the town center. You’ll get an instant read on the businesses that make up the downtown area and where the town center is relative to property your visiting.
Visit a Cafe or Restaurant
Drop into a cafe or restaurant for a quick breakfast, lunch, or snack. If your schedule allows, do this after you tour the open house and use the time to debrief before heading to your next open house appointment.
Explore Green Spaces
Public parks, conservation areas, and wildlife sanctuaries are all resources that can enrich a community. You can use a community tour to find out where parks and green spaces are located. The GPS on your smartphone will be the best way to locate and then drive to these places.
Chat with Local Residents
“How do you like living here?” If the opportunity arises, that’s one simple question you can ask local residents when you tour a community. Asking an open-ended question will elicit a fuller response.
