Browse This Weeks Open Houses
Before you leave to look at open houses
Here's some tips for what buyers should look for at an open house: Make a map for the day. Make a map of each location and a driving map from location to location. This should save you some time. I use google maps, you can plot several addresses and then move them around to suit your needs.
Stick with homes you know you want to see, there’s no sense stopping at homes that don’t meet your needs. You only have a couple of hours to get to all the homes, don’t waste your time on homes that won’t work.
What to Look For At the Open House
Take photos
If you’re like most buyers, you are visiting multiple houses in one weekend, it is a challenge to keep them straight. Most agents won’t mind you taking photos, however, you might want to ask the agent in charge if it is okay. Take one of the outside and then features inside that you like and do not like. Nowadays with mobile technology, you can easily keep track of homes you visit with both notes and photos. Apps like Evernote can really help in keeping notes and photos organized.
Does the house have any upgrades or special features that you should look for while you are walking through the house?
You can walk right by some great upgrades and special features that a home has without ever noticing especially if you are having a conversation. Upgraded brand name tiling, special hardwood flooring, upgraded windows, plumbing fixtures, sound systems and other extras you won’t want to just walk by. Pay particular attention to high priced items, heater/air conditioning, roof, kitchens and bathrooms. This may raise your interest in the property and help to justify the higher price.
What to look for at an open house
When walking through the house, look for important clues to potential problems. Watermarks on floors may mean previous flooding. Moldy shower grout, moisture in the shower air, musty smell and mildew under sinks all have potential for bigger problems down the road. Are windows properly sealing? Are there cracks in any of the walls or flooring? Where is the water heater and can you see it? Is the house forced air heating? Is there air conditioning? Do light switches work? Manytimes items are disclosed during purchase, but finding out whether the house has been maintained or not from the time you enter an open house can make a huge difference to your bottom line when making an offer.
Look at the house features NOT the decorating style
Everyone has different tastes. What you should do is look past the current decoration. Can you imagine the house with your furniture, your rugs, your photos and art, even with a new coat of paint and new carpet?
Other People Have Asked:
Are there any other costs of ownership besides the monthly mortgage payment?
After the Open House
Decide in the car what you would pay for the house. Start getting an idea of value. It is important to weigh the homes currently on the market, even if they don’t meet your needs. That way, when the right home comes along, you will know what it is worth to you.