How Many Homes Should I Tour Before I Make an Offer in the Greater Tulsa Area?

There's no magic number of showings before the right home, but I recommend touring at least three to five homes before you make an offer, even if you love the first one. Seeing a few homes gives you something to compare. You're ready to make an offer when a home checks your must-haves, fits your budget, and still feels right after you've looked at it closely.

Whether you're buying in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, or Catoosa, the same approach applies.

I'm Christina Shortsleeve, a REALTOR® with REMAX Results, and I help first-time buyers across the Greater Tulsa Area buy with a clear plan.

Every buyer's search is different. How many homes you tour depends on how clear your must-haves are, how many homes in your price range are on the market, and how quickly you know what works for you.

Right now in the Greater Tulsa Area, more homes are coming onto the market than going off it, so many buyers have more homes to choose from.

I once worked with a buyer who was sure the first home was the one. After touring a few more, they realized they wouldn't have loved that first home as much as they thought. That's why I like to see at least three to five before you decide.

• The home checks your must-haves. The things you can't change later, like location, layout, and lot.
• It fits your budget. Your payment works for your life, not only for your approval.
• It holds up to a closer look. You've looked past the paint and decor to the roof, the HVAC, the water heater, the windows, and the structure.
• You keep comparing other homes to it. That's often a sign it's the one.

My article on what to look for at a showing covers the big items I check for my buyers.

• Keep it to about six homes in a day. After that, it's easy to mix up which house had which feature. Your timeline can change that. If you're coming in from out of town with one day to look, we may plan more.
• Write down your must-haves first, separate from your nice-to-haves.
• Keep notes on each home. I keep notes on every home we tour, including what you liked and didn't like, so they don't blur together.
• Learn the process first. If you're new to buying, you can meet me at one home before you're pre-approved. I'd rather walk you through the process first, then send you to a lender. My article on how pre-approval works explains that step.

• Deciding after one showing. A home can look different once you have others to compare it to.
• Waiting for a perfect home. Most homes will have something you'd change.
• Falling for the decor. Paint and furniture change. Layout and location don't.
• Touring homes outside their budget. It makes the homes you can afford feel like a step down.
• Not writing anything down. After a few showings, homes start to run together.

How many houses should I look at before buying?

There's no set number, but I recommend at least three to five, so you have something to compare. You're ready when a home checks your must-haves, fits your budget, and still feels right after a closer look.

Is it a mistake to make an offer on the first house I see?

It can work out, but I recommend touring a few more first. Seeing other homes helps you know whether the first one is really the right fit.

How many homes should I see in one day?

I usually keep it to about six. After that, it's easy to mix up which house had which feature. If you only have one day, we can plan for more.

Do I need to be pre-approved before touring homes?

If you're new to buying, you can meet me at one home first. I'd rather walk you through the process before sending you to a lender. Then pre-approval tells you the price range to tour.

If you're starting to think about buying, start with my page for first-time buyers in the Greater Tulsa Area. When you're ready, send me a message. I'll walk you through the Purchasing Pathway, so you know what each step looks like before you reach it, including how to tell when you've found the right home.

Christina Shortsleeve is a REALTOR® with REMAX Results in the Greater Tulsa Area, helping first-time buyers, homeowners ready to upgrade, and downsizers buy and sell with a clear plan. She has sold 127 homes since 2020.