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 print a copy per home and compare them side by side afterwards.
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.