2 minute read.
 
Have you been spending your weekends visiting open houses? With modern staging and those delicious cookies they’ve left out for you to eat, it is easy to overlook some important details. The open house is an opportunity for you to look beyond the touched up photos you’ve seen online and got a really good look at the home. Here are a few key things that you should be looking for.

Inspect the Kitchen
 
You are likely going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Don’t be distracted by the flowers and staging items. Stand near the stove and sink; open and close some drawers and cupboards. Check for smooth movements and listen for squeaks. You also want to make sure that the layout works for the way you like to cook. Is there an adequate prep area? Is there enough lighting? Take note of the storage, is there enough space for all of your small appliances? How long until the backsplash needs to be replaced? Or will the cabinets need to be touched up sooner rather than later? Are the appliances in good condition? These are all questions that can be forgotten when speaking with the open house agent.

Check Bathrooms
 
Take some time to look beyond the updated finishes or beautiful hardware. Do you require a double sink? Is there a bathtub? If not, you will likely have to renovate in the future if you plan to have kids.  Is there enough storage space? A linen closet? A place to hide all the kid's toys? Test the taps. Make sure the water pressure in the shower to suit your needs. Flush the toilets. Plumbing issues can cost a lot of money, so you want to check those as soon as you can.

How do the window coverings look?
 
Replacing all the window coverings in a home can really add up. Take the opportunity during the open house to make sure the current window coverings suit your needs. Do you prefer blackout blinds? Do they match your furniture? Do you have pets that will pull at the cord of the blinds? Did they have pets, and will you need to have the curtains professionally cleaned? Spend some time opening and closing all of the shutters, curtains, and/or blinds. This will help determine if there are any that are damaged and need replacing.

Can you see the foundation?
 
Often overlooked during an open house visit, it is critical to inspect the foundation. Can you see it in the basement? If not, take a walk around the exterior of the home and look for any visible abnormalities. If the basement is not entirely finished and you are able to take a look, examine it for any cracks, smells, or white powder-like substances. If you do see white marks, this is a sign that water has seeped in at some point in time. You will definitely want to ask your real estate representative to look further into it. Even if you will be performing a home inspection during your offer process, taking a good look at the foundation during your open house will help determine if you should put in an offer at all.

At Knowledge Broker, our goal is to create an open-source of information for all our clients. We want to ensure that, at the end of the day, they get exactly what they want and what they need. If you know someone who could use our help or services please put them in touch with us or send us their details using the contact information below. And before you go, click here to take the Knowledge Broker Quiz and see exactly what we can do for you!

JOSHUA CAMPBELL (@knowledgebrkr)
Real Estate Broker
Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre, Brokerage
joshua@knowledgebroker.ca
249 Avenue Road • Newmarket, ON L3Y 1N8
289.231.0001