The open house is an excellent opportunity to see and feel your potential home first-hand. Although everything will probably seem perfect, don’t let the staged appearance of the open house distract you. To determine whether the home will be a suitable fit for you and your family, you must be able to look past the impeccably organized furniture and delicious finger foods. Be vigilant and know this is not solely a personal tour of the house. The host did everything to hide all the shortcomings of the house, and it’s up to you to spot them. Here is a house buyer’s checklist of things to check during an open house.
1. Advantages of going to an open house
Whether you’re looking for a modest home or a luxurious mansion in Florida, mere real estate pictures won’t be enough. Firstly, seeing many open houses can help you figure out what you actually want and don’t want in your ideal home. You’ll begin to have a clearer idea of your priorities and learn not to be influenced by the aroma of freshly made cookies or the eye-catching living room paint color. You’ll learn to look past the apparent defects and recognize a fantastic property when you see one. To attain these abilities, you just need to visit many open houses. You’ll also learn how to identify a lousy offer a lot faster. Additionally, you’ll discover practical ways to speak with real estate brokers. You’ll be acquainted with the neighborhood prices and learn whether an asking price is reasonable or above the market value.
2. Technical things to check during an open house
It would be best if you made the most out of your tour to check for anything that might become a problem after you buy the property. Be ready to go the extra mile and ask or check whether everything clickable, moveable and switchable is in working order. Some of the things you should check:
- Do all the lights to check if their corresponding switches work
- Are there enough electrical outlets, and are they all working
- Are all the taps, faucets, and drains in working order
- If there are garage and/or gateway doors, and if they are properly functioning
- Also inspect the AC system, especially if it’s an integrated one that’s running throughout the house
3. Structural things to check
Every house will experience some wear and tear. What you should instead be on the lookout for are clear indications of damage or neglect:
- Pay close attention to the baseboards, particularly in the basement. Any stains or warping can indicate previous flooding or pipe bursts.
- Ceiling stains may be a sign of a leaking roof. Pay attention to your nose as you move around. If a space smells musty, mold or mildew may be present.
- Carefully inspect any exposed pipes for rust or leaking
- If many rugs are covering the hardwood floors in the house, the owner may be trying to hide wood damage. Try to lift the covers and check what state the floors are in.
- Check the doors and windows, and see if they function as they should
4. Possible problems when moving in
Try to consider everything that might be a problem once you start moving in. Depending on the location and window and door sizes, you may need an experienced team to help with your move-in. Although you may have found a perfect place to move to, the relocation itself may prove to be a bit more complicated than anticipated. Instead of worrying if the couch can go through the front door or the garage, delegate that thinking and labor to professionals. And once they are done, you’ll come to a home ready to be lived in.
5. Key questions
Even if you may have done the check during an open house, there are some other problems switches and rugs won’t answer you:
- Why is the property on sale?
The answer to this question may influence your choice of buying real estate.
- How long has it been on the market?
Knowing this can determine whether you need to hurry with your offer or the interest is negligible, and you can negotiate the price.
- Was it recently updated?
This way, you’ll know what to expect regarding possible renovations of your own.
6. Neighborhood
Aside from the home and the property, you’re looking to buy, take into account that the neighborhood comes along with it. Look around your potential neighborhood, including any homes that border the backyard. How well-maintained are their home and yard? Do they have any kids or animals? Is their garbage disposed of properly, or does it overflow into the yard? Is the driveway occupied by vehicles or by junk, and so on. Try going around and speaking to the residents to see how they feel about that neighborhood and the listing you are interested in. Knowing and checking your potential neighbors is always a good idea; sometimes, they can make a difference between a good place to live or a bad one.
Additionally, here is some advice to keep in mind when moving in. If you don’t want your first impression to be terrible, experts from orangemover.com suggest you make your move during the working hours and with as little disruption to the other homes as possible. Your neighbors should understand what a move-in entails, but you shouldn’t abuse that. Find a good moving company that will respect your neighbors and you.
7. Amenities
Depending on the property’s location and your wishes, it’s always a plus to know if any intriguing amenities are included. But be careful not to bite more than you can chew. You may love that there is a pool or a home gym, but they come at a hefty price. All the maintenance and services they might need in the future maybe aren’t something you included in your home budget. Choose with your heart and with your brain also.
8. Open house etiquette
It can benefit both you and your hosts when companies like thomasteamflorida.com conveniently inform you of the upcoming open houses and their times, dates, and locations. Although you may see yourself as a potential owner, when you enter an open house, consider yourself a guest. When there, please follow any basic rules set by the hosts. Imagine losing the chance to buy your dream home only because you refused to take off your shoes. Try to make a good impression – sometimes that will be enough to determine who’s offer owners will choose. Give other buyers an equal chance to see what they want; you’ll get plenty of time to do the same.
In conclusion, touring a potential house before buying it will give you a reasonable basis for what to expect once you move in. Always remember that you should check everything during the walkthrough, as that’s the purpose of an open house. And with these tips on what to check during an open house, you’ll ensure every check is productive.
Article provided by Tayna Douglas; tanya@eastcoasthaul.com