Planning Your Approach To An Open House
Making the decision to purchase a new home can be rather overwhelming, especially if it is your first home or you are moving interstate. There is an awful lot to think about, particularly when it comes to thinking about financing, selling your existing home, finding an area to move to, and of course looking for potential new homes! It can be easy to get wrapped up in the financing details, and forget that you are actually looking for a new home to spend the next chapter of your life in and share with your loved ones. Keeping sight of this fact, and choosing the best home to suit your needs, is the key to homeowner happiness.
You will undoubtedly view many houses before finding one that is suitable. And indeed, this is recommended. Viewing numerous houses helps you to realize what you like, what you don’t like, what your price range will let you purchase, and which areas you are most drawn to. However, when you look at lots of houses in a short space of time, it is easy to lose track of what you are looking for. As you only have a short amount of time to view each property, it is important to take as much information in as you can from each home. So, what are the important details when you are viewing a potential home? Well, here are some of them.
First of all, there are several things you should bring with you to the open house. You will need a tape measure, a camera, and a notebook. Write down as much as you can while you are in the house, as it is easy to become confused when you are viewing multiple houses. By taking notes, you can remember which house had the spacious living room, which had modern kitchens, and which was bathed in afternoon sunlight. Don’t be afraid to take photos either, but make sure you check with the realtor to ensure that this is allowed.
However, don’t spend all your time taking photos and not actually taking in what you are seeing. Make sure you look for water damage, obvious signs of disrepair, and anything that may need replacing. Spend plenty of time opening drawers, cupboards and closets. Make sure everything is in good working order, and see if there is enough storage space to meet your needs. Spend time looking at the outside of the house too, and examine the guttering for any required repair work, and the roof for missing tiles or shingles.
You should also not be afraid to ask questions. The only way you can learn about the property and the neighbourhood is by asking. Find out when the house was built, what the neighbourhood is like, whether there are schools and parks in the area, what renovations have been made to the house, when it was listed, and anything else that you may think is important. Remember that the agent is there to help you and provide you with all the information you need, so don’t be afraid to ask for it!
Kurt Jacobson is a surfing enthusiast with a background in real estate. Having moved 10 times in the past 7 years, he thrives on helping others learn from his experiences. When he's not out shredding waves he writes about rental town homes for RentFinder.co.
Post a Comment