Property inspections: lead with your head

FROM taking notes to going back to your favourite property with a friend, Cate Bakos, a Melbourne-based licensed real estate agent and buyers’ advocate, offers some top tips for reaping the benefits of open inspections on the day.

It’s important you stay true to your list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves”.

It’s so easy to get swept away on the spot when you’re walking around a beautiful home, but try to keep a pragmatic approach and pay attention to the condition of the property, taking note of any major and/or pressing changes you’d need to make.

Aside from focusing on your checklist, the condition of the property and its general appeal, you can glean a lot of information about the sale by paying close attention to the popularity of the inspection and any conversations had with the agent.

Both will shed light on the degree of competition you may be up against.

Often, the most important thing you can do is to offer the agent some friendly feedback. If you’re keen, it’s essential the agent knows this.

A good day of inspections may uncover a property you want to buy, and a great day may find multiple eligible properties.

Before enthusiasm sweeps you off your feet, run through the contenders to make sure your “must haves” are met.

You’ll then have your top contender/s and be ready to go onto the next step, which is usually a second inspection.

Second inspections offer a perfect opportunity to see if there’s anything vital you missed the first time round.

— realestate.com.au