Open homes: what to look for and what to avoid
Get ready to do the rounds of open homes with these tips from the experts at Trade Me Property.
When searching for your dream property, attending open homes can be one of the most daunting steps in your home ownership journey.
New Zealand’s property market has never been hotter, making open homes busier than ever before.
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of open homes and lose track of what you should be looking for. To keep you on message, we asked the experts at Trade Me Property, New Zealand’s number on property site, their top tips for a successful open inspection. Here’s what they say:
MAKE A PLAN
When you get to the business end of buying a property you need to be strategic and plan your open home visits, says Glen Arvidson, Trade Me Property’s head of product.
“The majority of open homes are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday for anywhere between 30-45 minutes,” Arvidson says.
“You’ll need to plan your weekend carefully and factor in travel times between viewings and if you can’t make it, reach out to the
property advertiser and request a private viewing.”
Make sure you set a reminder, so you don’t get your dates mixed up and miss out on the open home of your dream property. Use Trade Me Property’s free Open Home Planner to keep track of things, because it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
If you can, arrive early so you can have a good look around without other people in the way, and bring a pen and paper to make notes of what you see.
CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Convinced you’ve found your dream home? Trade Me Property experts say your scrutiny of the property should start well before you walk in through the front door, so on the way to the viewing (or earlier if
possible) you should look around the neighbourhood and the surrounding suburb.
Check out things like schools, transport links, shops and local amenities and follow this up with some suburb research and ask questions about the area at the viewing.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Because you’ve followed Trade Me Property’s advice to arrive at the open home early you’ve now got time to check out the exterior of the property.
Things to look for include parking, any damage to gutters and drainage, signs of cracked or rotting wooden window frames and nicks in the paintwork.
If you can, get under the house and check for dampness by using your nose, literally, because unwanted moisture can leave an unpleasant smell.
LIFE ON THE INSIDE
Once you cross the threshold don’t be afraid to take your time and explore every nook and cranny of the property. In particular look at: the
oorboards or carpet (patches of damp are a big red ag) the plumbing (so
ush those toilets) storage
space signs of mould the layout and room sizes and security things like (hopefully) working alarm systems and locks on doors and windows.
ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS
An open home is like the ultimate blind date for would-be buyers and so don’t feel awkward about asking lots of questions. Important things to ask include why the vendors are selling are there building reports or documents you can see and what settlement date the owners are hoping for.
Jot down the questions before you get there so you don’t forget anything. Buying a property is exciting and ful lling, but you’ll sleep better at night knowing you did your homework.
So, now you know what to look for at an open home the only thing left to do is make a list of the properties you want to see and plan your weekend of viewing. Trade Me Property is New Zealand’s favourite property site and has new listings every day, along with more tips and advice about attending open homes. And don’t forget a pen!