Home Buyers Room by Room Open House Question Checklist

It's easy to for buyers to become a bit overwhelmed during an open house and overlook some critical questions for the current home owners or showing agent. When you spend time at an open house, it's important to get all of the information you'll need to consider purchasing the home. The questions listed in this article are essential to helping you, as the prospective buyers, understand the condition and value of the home. Use this room by room checklist during each and every open house you attend while you browse for your new home!

Questions You Must Ask When Attending an Open House 

Kitchen

• Was the kitchen recently renovated? What year and what was done?
• How old are the appliances?
• Are all the appliances functional?
• Have there been any repairs on the appliances within the recent years?
• Are there warranties on the appliances? What is the length and what do they cover?

Living Room

• What's under the carpet? If you can pull it up to see for yourself, even better!
• Has the carpet been replaced? Have the floors been replaced? When?

Bedrooms

• What are the dimensions of the bedroom? If you can measure yourself then that's best to know if your furniture will fit. 
• If there is carpeting, what is underneath?
• Has there been any remodeling work done in the bedrooms? For example, many home owners add in walls to separate large rooms into children's bedrooms or add in a skylight or extra window. 

Bathrooms

• Ask about the water pressure for the sinks and shower.
• Turn the faucet and shower on and off to see if there is any knocking or delays.
• Any leaks since they've owned the home?
• How is the drainage?
• How is the hot water and are there any problems dependent on the weather?

Roof

• What is the age of the roof?  
• Was it ever replaced? If so, when?
• What type of roof is it and what is the life expectancy for this material?

Home Addition

• Is this a legal add-on? Make sure to obtain any related paperwork and know who completed the work.

Yard

• Know where the property line begins and ends
• Will all the items in the backyard be included with the purchase of the home?
• If there is a pool or hot tub, ask the age and condition of the equipment and mechanisms
• Any past problems with systems in the yard? 

General Questions

• How often have systems throughout the home been serviced?
• Why is the seller selling this home?
• Any major property disclosures? Insects, paranormal activity, mold..etc
• Do you have recent inspection reports on the property?
• Are there any HOA fees?
• How much should we expect to pay in utility fees for this home?
• Any issues with surrounding neighbors to disclose?
• Any appliance(s) included in the home purchase that is not under warranty?
• What internet and cable services do they use and is it affordable?
• Any problems within the neighborhood to be concerned about?  

See Every Home on The Market and Save 1.5% When Buying!

Showing homes to clients when they want to see them is the keystone to our business model. At Glass House we employ salaried field agents whose primary responsibility is to show our clients homes; evening and weekend showings are typical. Our only requirement is that you have a pre-approval from a local lender of your choice. 

Simply email us at showings@glasshousere.com and we will respond within minutes with a confirmation time and location.