There is no way buying a house would be a casual affair, in fact, this would certainly be one of the biggest decisions you would ever make in your life. Visiting an open house is a thing that we do when we are interested in giving a peek at the house. Some people just go there for window shopping or to get an idea about the kind of house they can expect in that area among other things. On the other hand, there are a few people who might be thinking about buying the house or get all the information about the house they can get.
But one of the most important tasks that you should be performing is to ask the right of questions at the open house. The right questions would help you to gather all the information about the open house such as the price value, the faults in the house, or all the good things. So that you can make an informed decision about the house.
There are so many questions that you can ask at an open house but only a few would be crucial and help you get the information that you have been looking for.
We have gathered a bunch of questions to ask at an open house. So go ahead and take a look at the following questions so that you take that open house tour fully prepared.
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Questions to ask at an open house
1. How long has the house been on the market?
2. Have there been any price reductions?
3. Why are the owners selling?
4. Have there been any offers?
5. What’s an ideal timeline look like for the seller?
6. Are there contingencies the seller will/won’t accept?
7. What are the biggest issues?
8. Has the home been tested for mold, radon, lead, or asbestos?
9. Is it in a FEMA What are the biggest issues?
10. Has the home been tested for mold, radon, lead, or asbestos?
11. Is it in a FEMA flood zone?
12. Do the current owners have flood insurance? How much is it?
13. Is there or has there ever been an underground oil tank?
14. Have there been any extensions, renovations, or updates? When? Are the permits available?
15. When was the room painted?
16. How old is the carpet? What flooring is underneath?
17. How old are the windows? (Visually check the seals and sills)
18. If there are yard fixtures (fountain, firepit, etc.) do they stay with the property?
19. If there is a pool, how old is the equipment?
20. Are there areas in the yard where water doesn’t drain?
21. How well does water drain away from the house?
22. Are there or have there ever been pests? What kind? What mitigation has been done?
23. What’s the sun exposure like in summertime? Wintertime?
24. Do the sellers use a lawn service? How much does it cost?
25. Are the window treatments included?
26. Can I measure to make sure my furniture will fit?
27. When was the last time the roof was replaced?
28. How old are the home’s major systems (electric, plumbing, HVAC)?
29. Have the sellers kept pets in the home?
30. Can I see a Seller’s Property Disclosure?
31. Have the sellers done upgrades or renovations? Do they have the permits?
32. Wastewater — sewer or septic?
33. How much are utilities?
34. Have there been any more water problems since the sump pump was replaced?
35. How extensive was the termite damage listed on the disclosure?
36. Have the owners done any further mold testing?
37. Do the current owners have flood insurance? How much is it?
38. Is there or has there ever been an underground oil tank?
39. When was the last time the roof was replaced?
40. How old are the home’s major systems (electric, plumbing, HVAC)?
41. Have the sellers kept pets in the home?
42. Can I see a Seller’s Property Disclosure?
43. Have the sellers done upgrades or renovations? Do they have the permits?
44. Wastewater — sewer or septic?
45. How much are utilities?
46. Are there contingencies the seller will want to make?
47. Are the sellers offering any incentives?
48. What are the active, pending, and recently sold comps?
49. Is it vacant? How long has it been vacant?
50. How old is the building?
Conclusion –
These are some of the best questions to ask at an open house. All the aforementioned questions are picked by the professionals. So these questions would surely get you the kind of answers you want to get out of the open house. So go ahead and ask these questions at an open house and make an informed decision about the house you might buy. We hope these questions would help all the potential buyers out there, who are about to go on an open house tour.
