An open home is a short look at a house with other visitors walking through and the agent in the room. Most people come away with a vague feeling about the place and a lot of photos they can't remember taking. A short, fixed list of things to check makes the visit more useful, and it makes the houses easier to compare afterwards.

This is the walkthrough we'd suggest. It's written for the visit itself, so keep it short enough to run through without standing in the hallway reading.

Before you go in

  • Check the listing again. Note the price guide or method of sale, the land area, the building age and any disclosed work. Anything you need to ask about goes on your list now.
  • Look at the street. Park, walk the block for a few minutes and notice traffic, parking, neighbours and how close the nearest bus stop or shop is. You can't see these from inside the house.
  • Check the weather. A house in full sun at noon can feel very different from the same house on a grey Tuesday evening. If you can, see it at a second time of day before you make an offer.

Inside: the things photos don't show

Walk through the house once without judging anything. Then go round a second time with a list.

  • Damp and mould. Look at the corners of ceilings and window frames, the bottom of wardrobes and under sinks. A musty smell that the agent explains away with "it's been shut up" is worth a question.
  • Water pressure and the taps. Run the shower and the kitchen tap at the same time. Look under the vanity and the kitchen sink for drips or staining.
  • Ceilings and walls. Look for cracks that run from the corners of doors and windows, and for patches that look newer than the rest of the paint.
  • Wiring and switches. Flick a few switches and check the power points you'd actually use, especially in the kitchen and the living room.
  • The roof space and the sub-floor, if you can see them. Many access points are hatches in a cupboard. You're not inspecting, just looking for water marks, sagging or obvious pests.
  • Windows and doors. Open and close a few. Stiff or sticking windows can point to frame movement, and draughts show up on a cold day.
  • Storage and the layout. Measure the rooms you care about. A bed that fits on paper may not fit once the wardrobe door swings out.

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Questions to ask the agent

Agents are generally happy to answer straightforward questions, and the answers are worth writing down with the time you asked them. Useful ones include:

  • Is there a LIM or building report already available, and is anything disclosed that isn't in the listing?
  • What's the method of sale, and is there a deadline or a date for offers?
  • How long has the property been on the market, and has it had any previous offers or price changes?
  • What do the rates and the insurance cost, roughly?
  • Are there any consents, unconsented work or known issues with the land?

The agent works for the seller. Their answers are useful, but anything that matters to your decision should be confirmed through your own due diligence, such as a LIM, a building inspection and your lawyer's checks.

Score it straight after

A common mistake is leaving the open home with a feeling and then mixing it up with the next few houses you see that weekend. Score each one while you still remember the details. Pick five or six things that matter to you, such as the kitchen, the light, the street, the storage and the maintenance, and give each a mark out of five. Add a line of notes about anything you'd want to check again.

OurHouse has an open-home scorecard on each watchlist item, so you can fill it in straight after the visit and compare it against the other properties on your list. Keep the notes short and specific. "Kitchen is small but the bench is good" is more useful in three weeks than "kitchen OK".

Go back with a plan

If a house is on your shortlist, go back with the list of things you noted. A second visit is normal, and it's the time to check the things you couldn't assess the first time: the neighbourhood at night, how the house sounds with the neighbours home, and whether the damp or draughts you noticed are as bad on a cold morning.

Walking away from a house after an open home is also a normal outcome. A good checklist makes it easier to say "not this one" with reasons, which is more useful than a vague feeling when you're looking at the next place.