The “Just One More House” Trap: How Buyers End Up Touring 30+ Homes!

by Kevin Garde

When you first start house hunting, you probably imagine it’ll be quick and simple—tour a few houses, fall in love, make an offer, and move in. Easy, right? But the reality for many buyers is a little different. Weeks later, you’ve toured 27 homes, your camera roll is jammed with photos of kitchens and staircases, and you’ve become a professional at opening every closet door in town.

Welcome to the “Just One More House” trap—a phenomenon that keeps buyers searching endlessly for the perfect property. Here’s why it happens and how to avoid getting stuck in the cycle.

Reason #1: The Online Listings Rabbit Hole

It always begins innocently. You’re lying in bed, scrolling through Zillow or Realtor.com, “just browsing.” Next thing you know, it’s nearly 2 a.m. and you’ve saved a dozen homes that look too good to pass up. Every wide-angle living room and perfectly staged kitchen convinces you it could be “the one.” The problem? Photos are designed to charm, not to tell the whole truth. That spacious-looking master bedroom? It might actually be the size of a walk-in closet. Still, buyers can’t resist scheduling a showing because, deep down, they fear that skipping one might mean missing out on the dream home.

Reason #2: The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

FOMO is real in real estate. You walk into a home that feels promising—you can imagine yourself cooking dinner in the kitchen or relaxing on the patio. But before you commit, that little voice creeps in: “What if there’s a better one out there? What if the next house has a bigger yard, or nicer floors, or even better light?” Instead of saying yes, you add another house to the list “just in case.” This cycle repeats itself until buyers are caught in an endless loop of touring homes without ever making a decision. Sellers should know that buyers aren’t just comparing one home to another—they’re weighing it against every possible home they haven’t even seen yet.

Reason #3: HGTV Has Raised the Bar (Unrealistically)

Blame it on home makeover shows. Buyers watch couples on TV walk into three perfect homes, nitpick tiny details, and then pick “the one” with dramatic music playing in the background. In reality? No home is completely flawless, yet buyers still enter showings expecting move-in ready perfection. If the countertops aren’t quartz, the flooring isn’t brand-new, or the paint isn’t the perfect shade of greige, buyers hesitate. The truth is, many buyers hold out for that magazine-worthy home that rarely exists in real life. HGTV may have inspired dreams, but it also created expectations that can keep buyers trapped in a cycle of “just one more tour.”

Reason #4: Every House Has a Quirk

Even the most beautiful homes have something quirky that gives buyers pause. Maybe it’s a kitchen that feels too small, a bathroom with pink tile straight out of the ‘70s, or a staircase that squeaks like it’s haunted. Buyers can fixate on these flaws, thinking, “Maybe the next house won’t have anything wrong with it.” But here’s the reality: every house has its quirks. Even brand-new builds aren’t perfect—they might lack character or have layouts that don’t flow the way you imagined. Waiting for the unicorn property that checks every single box often means missing out on really great homes that just need a little imagination.

Reason #5: House-Hunting Turns Into a Hobby

At some point, buyers stop searching and start sightseeing. Touring homes becomes less about finding the right fit and more about weekend entertainment. Couples grab coffee, pack snacks, and make a day out of attending open houses. Buyers say things like, “It’s fine, we’ll keep looking,” even when they’ve already walked through a home that meets their needs. Before long, the search becomes more of a lifestyle than a mission. The danger? The longer you shop, the harder it feels to commit, because every house starts blending into the next one. By the time you’ve seen 30+ homes, you might not even remember which one had that dream kitchen you loved in the first place.

How to Break Free from the Trap

Create a must-have list before you start. Focus on non-negotiables like location, number of bedrooms, or yard size. Everything else can go into the “nice-to-have” column.

Tour in moderation. Looking at five homes in one day is manageable. Looking at twelve will only confuse you.

Stop chasing perfection. No house will have every single feature you’ve ever dreamed of. Instead, think about which quirks you can live with—or even grow to love.

Lean on your agent. A good agent will gently remind you when you’ve found a great fit and help you recognize when it’s time to stop shopping and start negotiating.

Final Thought

The “just one more house” trap is easy to fall into, but remember this: the right home isn’t about perfection—it’s about potential. Touring 30+ houses may give you stories to tell, but sometimes the best move is to stop chasing the unicorn and say yes to the home that feels right. After all, your future memories don’t care if the countertops are granite or quartz—they care that you’re finally home.

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Kevin Garde

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