Trying to find your perfect next home?  Sunday open houses are a great way to get a feel for what’s out there and maybe even find just the house you’ve been waiting for. 

Obviously, going through an open house is only part of the preliminary stage of inspecting a home – it’s not meant to replace a more thorough and complete inspection before signing the purchase contract.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind as you tour open homes.

See Past the Staging.

Savvy home sellers and their agents will do everything in their power to persuade you that the home is a dream house practically jumping right out of a page in a magazine.  Your job is to look past all of that and visualize what the home would actually look like with your stuff and how well it would fit the needs of you and your family.

Look for Obvious Signs or Cover Ups.

For example, basement foundation walls that are freshly painted might mean leakage.  Musty smells usually have a reason.  If the entire home smells like a zoo, chances are the previous owner’s pet have left enough dander in the carpet that it will probably need to be completely replaced.  What is that big area rug covering all but the edge of a potentially awesome hardwood floor?  You get the idea – just look for telltale signs and try to uncover their symptoms.

Use Extra Caution.

Be extra cautious and pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms.  Dated cabinetry and fixtures are often disguised or freshened up to look like something they are not.  This might ultimately be fine for your wants and desires, but make sure the quality level is up to par for your expectations.

How’s the Neighborhood?

Don’t fall in love with the open house only to make it hard to convince yourself later that the neighborhood just isn’t compatible with your needs or price range.  Besides the outward appearance of the area, have you looked at the schools and the taxes for the neighborhood?

Look for Ideas.

Even though the open house you’re going through might not be the right home for you, still keep notes of what you do and don’t like.  It will make things easier down the road as you try to narrow down your search or explain to an agent exactly what you’re looking for.  You might even take a few quick cell phone photos of features you absolutely love – but don’t get too carried away with photos; it could definitely make the sellers nervous.

Inspect the Infrastructure.

How’s the HVAC system?  If the furnace and A/C aren’t new and energy efficient, are they at least well-maintained?  How much life do they have left in them?  What about the water heater and other appliances that convey?  With energy at the forefront of many of our minds (and our pocketbooks too), it’s important to keep an eye not only on being efficient, but also on how much and how often repairs and replacement might be an issue.  Don’t forget to look at the roof too.

So there you have it, a few things every homebuyer should be on the lookout for as they tour open houses.  No need to be overly critical, but do be educated and try to see past any obvious attempts to lead the buyer astray.  Good luck with your search!

Tags:Buying a home open house