When you’re at an open house, there are several things to pay extra attention to, things to look for, things to check, and questions to ask.
Exterior
- Sliding: should be in good condition
- Windows: should be in good condition and flashing when necessary, are they double pane windows?
- Landscaping: is water flowing away from the house? are there a lot of plants and trees that need maintenance or can be dangerous?
- Gutters: are there gutter guards or leaves in the gutter?
- Roof: what’s the condition? how old is it and when was last serviced?
Interior
- Remodeling: when did they remodel? what did they remodel? who did the remodeling work?
- HVAC: when was it last cleaned and serviced?
- A/C: how old is it and when was last serviced?
- Furnace: how old is it and when was last serviced?
- Water heater: how old is it and when was last serviced?
- Plumbing: what kind of pipes does it have?
- Flooring: what kind of floors is it? check for water damage or warping
- Windows: check for water damage and warping
- Ceiling: check for water damage
- Flush all the toilets
- Run all the sinks
- Check under the sinks for water and mold damage
- Open all the doors
- Flip all the light switch
- Determine how the sound insulation is between floors and between rooms
- Open all the blinds
- Open all the windows
- How is the cellphone reception service?
