Things To Look for During At An Open House

Things To Look for During At An Open House

Are you getting ready to go to an open house? Looking at open houses is one of the many ways you may choose to work with your realtor to find the perfect home to suit your needs. An open house is a lot different from an individual home showing, and the things you’re looking for may be quite a lot different in this situation, too. In an individual showing, you’ll be better able to look closely at potential problem areas or things you want to think about, but in an open house, you’ll need to focus on a handful of factors during the time you spend checking out the home.

Look At The Floors
You’re probably busy looking around at all the bells and whistles of the home you’re touring, but don’t forget to stop and look down every now and then, too. If the floors look uneven, they probably are. If there are tile floors that look as though they were laid in a DIY project rather than by a professional, you may want to consider the potential issues that could come along with this. Of course, a DIY tiling job isn’t always a sign of something wrong, but it does mean you should consider a little harder before jumping into buying the home.

Maintenance Issues
Does the home look like it’s been kept up well, or is it lacking in the maintenance department? Are there a lot of burned-out bulbs, dirty light fixtures, outlets mixing covers, cracks in the decorative molding, or other similar issues? Maintenance problems usually indicate that the homeowners haven’t been keeping up with more serious repairs around the home, either, so pay attention to these. You may think, “I can replace light bulbs myself,” but don’t forget this could indicate bigger problems underneath it all.

Foundation Problems
You probably won’t be able to get a great look at the foundation while you’re looking around an open house, but you can check the inside and outside walls for cracks. Small hairline cracks aren’t really an issue, because these are normal with older homes regardless of their quality. However, if you notice very large cracks, especially those that go from floor to ceiling, you probably want to look elsewhere.

Mold And Water Damage
Always be on the lookout for mold and water damage. If you notice a discolored spot on the ceiling, that’s a water leak and you should ask about it. If you see mold, bring this up as well. You may want to consider checking out other homes if you notice these issues.