Open houses may be staged to look like a home decor dream, but don't let that distract you from the real reason you're there; to potentially buy the home! Make sure you can see past that neatly arranged furniture to focus on whether or not that the house will be a good fit for your needs. To help out, here's our home buyer checklist of 7 things to take note of during an open house:
1. Windows
Check the windows to see if they face the right direction to let sunlight in and have a good view. Another thing to note with windows is their age. Older windows have a tendency to be drafty (from use over the years). If there's enough of an air leak, it could negatively impact your home's heating bill in winter and cooling bill in summer.
2. Under the Sink
Check in the cabinets under the sink for possible signs of water damage due to leaky plumbing. What signs should you look for exactly? Look for moisture at the joints, as well as at the bottom of the P trap. Corrosion can appear on the supply line fittings and valves. The bottom of the cabinet can also be wet, look damp, have mold, have mildew, have buckled or have peeling material. These are all signs that a leak has occurred.
3. Electrical Outlets
Check to see if there are enough electrical outlets in the home for the appliances and electronics you know you'll be using. Older homes tend to have less outlets, since we didn't use as many appliances and electronic devices back then. This may mean a simple add on to the electrical system, or you may have to upgrade the total amperage of the house. Decide if that's a renovation you'd like to make, or one that you'll need to make.
4. Storage Space
Don't just check to see if there's ENOUGH closet space, take note of the closet placement too. Does it take away from the rest of the room? Is its location ideal? Is there any room in the home you wouldn't need to use that you can possibly use as storage?
5. Under The Rugs
No, we're not asking you to be the clean police. Lifting up rugs is helpful for checking the condition of the floor underneath. Large area rugs aren't moved around often, so they preserve the condition of the floor under it. This will serve as a comparison spot to the floor that does see traffic, sunlight, cleaning products, etc. Small differences in colour aren't anything to worry over, but noticeable and/or large dark staining is. It may indicate the presence of water, or some other event. Small rugs throughout the home may serve as accents, or possible cover-ups. Most sellers are pretty honest and upfront about these types of things, but in case they forget or neglect to mention it, it's a good idea to take a quick peek.
6. Attic
If the house has an attic, make sure it's well insulated. Since heat rises, a well insulated attic makes sure the heat stays inside, exactly where you need it to be. Likewise, insulation helps cool air to stay within your home. This ultimately helps your heating/cooling bills for the future.
7. Down Spouts / Water Spouts
Run-off from the eavestroughs travel down to your water spouts, and those spouts should be pointed AWAY from the house. If they aren't, it might be a good time to ask about the history of the home and water issues. If they aren't long enough, extensions can be purchased for a small cost. It may be a pain to cut around when you go to mow the lawn, but at least you know water seepage won't be an issue.
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