Open houses are a very nice part of the house-hunting process, but it is important to focus on specific details when you go there. Usually, open houses are staged as a home decor event, which is the right thing to do when you want to sell a house. However, as a homebuyer, you should consider looking at some fundamental things, such as windows, storage spaces, electrical outlets, etc.
Here is a checklist of what you should inspect when you are inside the home you’re considering buying.
Windows: Confirm that they are opening and closing well. Another tip is to see if the window is facing the right direction to let the sunlight in, and make sure they don’t open right in front of your future neighbors, because no one wants to be stalked, right?
Storage Space: We all know when we are looking for a house, one of our main concerns is to have enough space in the closets. Therefore, checking out storage spaces is a smart idea, to see if they have adequate space and if they’re placed in a convenient location.
Electrical Outlets: When walking around the house, ensure it has plenty of electrical outlets in all rooms — appliances in the kitchen, hair styling tools in the bathrooms, charging stations for your devices, etc. These are necessary details in our daily life that should be remembered when you’re looking for a new house.
Under Sink Cabinets: Check under the sink cabinets of the kitchen and bathrooms to make sure there are no plumbing issues. If you are not capable of gauging that, hire a professional to help you.
Water Spouts: To check the water spouts, step outside of the house and confirm if everything looks ok. The runoff from the gutters has to be far from the house, so if it is too close, something is wrong.
Appliances: If the house comes with some appliances, like a refrigerator, oven, or stove, make sure they are working well. Test all of them before you make an offer, and if something is not functioning, you can use this to negotiate with the owner.
Basement: It is common in some areas for houses to have a basement, and it is crucial to have it well-insulated to not have mold and mildew problems. To know more about this, check out our post Why You Should Waterproof Your Basement.
This list contains some of the main things you should look at when you are at an open house, but it does not stop here. There are more items you should check off as well, but these are great ones to start with. Keep following our blog to learn more information about real estate advice and enjoy the house hunting!
