What Should You Look for at an Open House? Picture a Regular Tuesday.
Ask Gigi Question of the Day
The next time you walk into an open house, picture a regular Tuesday. Where would you set down the groceries? Where would you take a work call? How would everyone get out the door in the morning?
As you walk through, look at how the layout fits your routine, what you can see and smell, and what you’d want to find out before coming back. Here’s how I’d walk through it.
What to Look for at an Open House: A Buyer’s Checklist.
Start where you’d actually come home. If you’d usually come in through the garage, walk that route. Count the steps and doors between the car and the kitchen. If you park two vehicles, check whether you could open both sets of doors comfortably. Look for where guests would park, too.
Try your regular Tuesday. Can you close a door for a work call while someone else is in the kitchen? Is the laundry close to the bedrooms you’d use most? If you want to do most of your living on one floor, walk the route between your usual entrance, bedroom, bathroom, and laundry.
Notice the light and listen for noise. Pause in the rooms you’d use most. How much daylight does the office get? Can you hear the road from the bedroom or patio? If traffic or street parking could affect your routine, drive by when you’d normally leave for work or come home.
Look for signs of moisture or wear. Scan ceilings, trim below windows, and flooring near exterior doors. Note exactly where you see a stain, smell something musty, or find a door that sticks. A ceiling stain could be from a repaired leak or one that still needs attention. Ask what happened and whether there’s a repair record.
Walk the outside. From ground level, look at the roofline and scan for obvious wear. See where the downspouts empty and whether the ground near the house slopes toward it. Ask about any spots where water might collect after a heavy rain.
Questions to ask at an open house
How old are the roof, heating and cooling system, and water heater? Ask when they were installed or replaced and whether there are records for major repairs.
Is the Seller’s Disclosure Notice available? If there is one, use it to follow up on anything you noticed. “Do you know what caused the stain by the back door, and when was it repaired?” gives the host something specific to check.
What are the typical utility costs? Here in North Texas, I’d ask what the electric bill looks like in July or August and in a milder month. The seller’s bills give you a starting point for your own budget.
If there’s an HOA, what do the dues cover? Ask for the written rules and available financial information. If guest parking or exterior maintenance matters to you, get specific. Where can guests park overnight? Who pays for a roof replacement? Have any special assessments been approved, or are major projects under discussion?
If you’re already working with a buyer’s agent, let the host know. Send your agent the questions you couldn’t answer at the open house so they can help you get the records and verify the details.
Decide if it’s worth a second look
Before you pull away, write down one thing that would make your Tuesday easier, one trade-off, and one question you want answered. For example, “The garage opens right by the kitchen. The office shares a wall with the living room. I need to confirm where overnight guests can park.” Those notes are easier to compare than four photos of four very similar kitchens.
On a second visit, bring a tape measure if that sofa has to come with you. Walk through your favorite room again and pay attention to how you’d actually use it. Review the documents and get an insurance quote for the address. If you go under contract, schedule an independent home inspection promptly and bring your notes so you can point out what caught your eye.
What’s the everyday detail that would make or break a house for you? Tell me in the comments. Your question might be my next Ask Gigi Question of the Day.
Gigi Pendleton, REALTOR® | Real Broker, LLC
Ask Gigi – Real Estate for Real Life
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