Are you looking for a home that you can purchase and move into? Perhaps you have minimal experience with inspecting prospective homes. In such a case, it is essential that you do adequate research so that you know what to look for and can form an opinion of what you expect your ideal home to have. That way, you can make a proper decision that you will not regret in the future; investing in property is a safe choice.
Researching how to buy a house is not easy. This article is specially designed to help you with that. What’s more? This article informs you of all that you need to know about open house checklists and ways to grab the best deals.
What exactly is an open house? In real estate terminology, an open house refers to a house that prospective buyers can visit and inspect without an appointment. An open house checklist refers to the list of things that a prospective buyer needs to consider while inspecting an open house.
Stuff you need to do
While checking out an open house, here is a list of stuff that you must do:
1) Check online: It is essential to conduct your research online regarding the particular piece of property you plan to visit.
2) Don’t be impulsive: Remember that it is foolish to make a bid on the house immediately after checking it out. Don’t make any impulsive decisions, but rather check out a few more options and weigh them all before deciding. Never show the seller that you are excited; otherwise, they might raise the price.
3) Check out the house’s exterior: Check out the roof, wall and windows for any damages. Also, check the amenities to look for in a new property.
4) Take photos: It is always good to take lots of pictures of the house and its features so that you can revisit the images later on (at the luxury of your home) and make comparisons before making any significant decisions.
5) Listen to other visitors: It is important that you listen to other visitors to gather more information and make a better decision.
6) Take measurements of the rooms: You must take measurements of the rooms to check beforehand whether the rooms can house all of your stuff.
7) View all paperwork relating to the house: Check out all the documents regarding the house. It is not wrong for a buyer to demand transparency from the seller regarding the property that is being sold.
8) Relationship with the real estate agent: It is good that the buyer maintains an excellent and respectable relationship with the best real estate agents. This eases the entire house hunting and purchase process.
Stuff you need to check
Here is the list of stuff that you need to check out before any purchase decision. The following items need to be added to your open house checklist:
1) Windows: Check whether the windows are in good condition and have a fantastic view.
2) Pipelines: Check the pipelines for leaks and other damage so that you can alert the seller and have him repair it.
3) Electrical outlets: You must check for damages to the switchboard, wiring and other electrical outlets.
4) Storage space: You must check all storage spaces in the open house, such as the attic, closet and cupboards.
5) Appliances: If the appliances are also a part of the deal, you must check their condition to ascertain whether they are in working condition.
6) Floor level: You must check the floor level. Check under the rugs (if any) to ascertain the condition of the floor under it.
8) Attic: If the house has an attic, make sure that it is well insulated.
Stuff you need to ask
Now that you know what you must do and what you need to check, it is time that you prepare for what you need to ask the real estate agent. This includes the following questions:
Was the house renovated recently? If so, when and what are the significant changes?
How old are the appliances, and are they all functional?
What are the dimensions of the rooms?
Has the roof ever been replaced? If so, when was the last time that it was replaced?
Why is the seller selling the house?
Any drainage or pipeline leaks in the house since it was owned?
