What to check and ask in a 15-minute open home — before, during, and after. Tick on your phone as you walk through; progress saves in your browser.
💾 Tip: reset between properties, or download a PDF per home and compare them side by side afterwards.
Key takeaways:
An open home checklist is a short, structured list for the 15–30 minutes you get at a public viewing — built to cover what to check, what to ask the agent, and what to do afterwards, before the next property blurs the last one together. It's deliberately shorter than a full property inspection checklist because that's all the time an open home actually gives you.
Use it on your phone as you walk through, then download or email a copy per property so your Saturday of open homes turns into a comparable set of notes rather than a foggy memory by Sunday.
| Open home | Private inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 15–30 minutes | 30–60 minutes |
| Other buyers present | Usually yes | No |
| Best for | First look, shortlisting | Serious consideration before an offer |
| Follow up with | Property Inspection Checklist | Professional building & pest report |
Open homes are theatre — bread baking, lamps on in dark corners, furniture chosen to make small rooms read large. Your job is to see past the staging: check your phone reception in the main rooms, listen for traffic and neighbours with the windows open for a moment, open the built-ins (storage is what makes homes liveable), and smell for damp under the scent of fresh coffee. Agents expect buyers to run a tap and open cupboards — you're not being rude, you're being serious.
The agent questions matter as much as the walk-through: why are they selling, how long has it been listed, have offers been made, what's included — the answers shape your negotiating position. Then do the thing almost nobody does: drive past again on a weeknight. Suburbs change character after dark, and it's the cheapest due diligence there is. When a home passes the open-home test, book a private inspection and bring our Property Inspection Checklist for the thorough version.
What should I ask the agent at an open home?
Why the vendor is selling, how long the property has been on the market, whether offers have been received, what's included in the sale, and whether there's a building and pest report available. Their answers — and hesitations — are all information.
Is it okay to open cupboards and run taps?
Yes — that's what open homes are for. Serious buyers check storage, water pressure, and window operation. Just be respectful with personal belongings.
What do home stagers try to hide?
Small rooms (undersized furniture), dark rooms (every lamp on at midday), noise (music playing), odours (candles and baking), and defects (strategically placed rugs and artwork). Look behind, under, and past the styling.
How many times should I view a property before offering?
At least twice, at different times of day — once at the open, once privately for 30–60 minutes. Different light, traffic, and neighbour noise between visits tell you things one visit can't.
Should I take photos?
Ask the agent first — most allow it. After three open homes in a weekend, properties blur together; photos keyed to your ticked checklist keep your comparisons honest.
Can I download or email this open home checklist?
Yes — Download PDF gives you a printable, tick-marked copy per property, and Email opens your mail app with your notes pre-filled so you can send them to yourself or a partner between viewings.
How do I compare multiple open homes in one weekend?
Reset the checklist and download or email a copy after each property, then line the PDFs up side by side that evening — memory alone won't hold four floorplans and their trade-offs straight.
What's the difference between an open home and a private inspection?
An open home is a shared 15–30 minute slot with other buyers present; a private inspection is booked one-on-one, usually 30–60 minutes, and lets you look more closely and ask the agent detailed questions without an audience.