Home buying can be stressful, but there is one step in the whole process that sellers and buyers could actually enjoy - an open-house!
Apart from all the fun and socialization (and the food offerings), open houses are helpful for buyers in drawing insight to help them in their decision-making.
However, open houses won't reveal everything about a property. While you can check every room of the house or the general paint conditions, there are several open-house secrets to look for.
The following are four open-house secrets and corresponding tips to uncover them according to Trulia:
Structural Challenges
It's normal to immediately like a house at first glance (especially if it's painted in your favorite color), but you need to look past that and identify potential structural challenges that would demand expensive repairs or adjustments in the future.
Tip: Keep your eyes open for cracks in the ceilings and walls. As you walk through the property, take notice of any sloping on the floors. Have a check on the doors and see if they are working as they should. Regardless if the house was newly constructed, do not waive an inspection when you make an offer. Issues with foundation are often the most costly and challenging.
Cosmetic Blemishes
An open house is meant to entice buyers to get the house, so sellers professionally stage and present it with all the artfully placed and expensive-looking decors and plush rugs. But don't fall for those just yet; find out if they are there to enhance or to cover the uglies. More often than not, there is something you are not seeing.
Tip: An exclusive viewing should be the solution. Ask your agent to arrange an additional viewing after the open house without other people around. That way, you will be free to flip things, check underneath for whatever that might have been concealed or hidden during the open house.
The neighbors and the neighborhood
Open houses are usually done in day time (when the neighborhood is quiet and the four kids next door are in school). Your experience during the open house might not accurately reflect the actual neighborhood when everyone's home at night.
Tip: A drive through the neighborhood when the sun comes down would help you get an actual feel of the community.
History of home insurance claims
You find the perfect house and closed the deal and you are so ready to move in when you discover that it has a boatload of previous insurance claims - and that is one you can't discover in an open house. Checkout any recent construction that isn't a renovation, addition, or a remodel; it should hint you to do your homework before committing.
Tip: A CLUE or Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange will provide 5 five years of insurance claim history of the seller and you could simply ask your real estate agent to request it.
