Fully inspect the house before you buy – experts warn
Potential home buyers are urged to ensure that their actions are guided by their heads and not just their hearts.
People wishing to approach the property market and buy their homes are urged to do open house visits and inspect the properties before putting in an offer.
This is advised by Rawson property group’s regional sales manager David Jacobs who said there’s a lot more to think about when viewing an open house than one’s personal opinions.
He highlighted the most common mistakes that he has witnessed at show houses and how potential buyers can avoid making the same mistakes.
“Visiting a show house is about more than just experiencing the property. It’s also an opportunity to ask important questions and get a sense of what the seller is thinking via their agent. Therefore, it is highly recommended for someone to put together a list of key questions, including things like how long the property has been on the market, whether the price has been amended at all, whether there are any known defects, and if there have been any unsuccessful offers.
“While this may be, potential buyers must keep in mind that the agent works for the seller, so their answers will be tailored for positive impact,” said Jacobs who added that despite this, potential buyers can often learn a lot about a property and its seller’s state of mind by asking a few targeted – but polite – questions.
According to Jacobs, it is perfectly natural to feel awkward about opening somebody else’s cupboards, asking to see inside their roof space, or peeking underneath their carpets.
However, he added that this should be done respectively.
“This careful examination is not just acceptable, it’s actively encouraged, and essential. Sellers legally have to disclose any known material defects but the potential buyer’s idea of defects and theirs may not be the same. Things like tiny closets, poor water pressure, or non-existent cell phone reception might be a non-issue for one person and a total deal breaker for another. As such, I fully support serious show house visitors taking a ‘peek under the hood’, and I also recommend doing so sensitively, and with the sales agent’s permission,” he said
According to Jacobs, show houses aren’t just an opportunity for buyers to learn more about a property, but are also a chance for agents to discover useful details about prospective buyers.
“It’s important to be polite and friendly, but be careful how much you reveal to the seller’s agent. The more they know about you, your property journey, any time or cost pressures you may be under, and how you feel about the property they’re showing, the more leverage they’ll have during negotiations. I also encourage potential buyers to pay attention to other visitors and listen out for potentially valuable information. It can be quite revealing to hear other potential buyers’ thoughts on a property, particularly if they are more familiar with the neighbourhood or the property market than you are. Don’t take everything you hear as the truth, but if someone mentions a particularly high crime rate, a known noise nuisance, or a wonky roofline, you may want to do a bit more investigating before making an offer.
“Likewise, if a visitor’s sentiment seems universally positive, the potential buyer may need to prepare for some hot competition. Either way, keeping your eyes and ears open is always a good idea,” said Jacobs who urges potential buyers to ensure that their actions are guided by their heads and not just their hearts.
