Free
House Inspection Checklist for Buyers: What to Check at an Open Home (A4 PDF)
Free to print and share. Please don't resell it.
Item details
An open home is short and the agent is busy. This checklist keeps you looking at the things that are expensive to fix or hard to live with: damp and mould, cracks, water pressure, light, noise and storage, plus the questions to ask before you leave.
It does not replace a building and pest inspection by a qualified inspector. Use it to decide which homes are worth paying one for.
What's included
- 1 A4 page: outside, inside, kitchen and bathrooms, light and noise, questions to ask
- A score line so you can compare homes
- Three colourways
How to use it
- Print one copy per home you see.
- Go round the outside first, then work room by room.
- Score the home before you leave, while it's fresh.
Questions
Do I still need a building and pest inspection?
Yes, for any home you are serious about. A licensed inspector checks the structure, roof space and subfloor, which you can't at an open home.
What are the warning signs at an open home?
Fresh paint on one patch of ceiling, a musty smell, doors that stick, cracks wider than a coin, and low water pressure.
What's on the page
Outside
- Cracks in brickwork or render
- Roof and gutters look sound
- Water pools near the house?
- Fences, paths and drainage
- Where the sun falls (north light)
- Parking and street noise
Inside
- Musty smell or mould spots
- Stains on ceilings or walls
- Cracks around doors and windows
- Doors and windows open easily
- Floors level, no soft spots
- Enough power points
Kitchen and bathrooms
- Water pressure at every tap
- Hot water arrives quickly
- Signs of leaks under sinks
- Ventilation and exhaust fans
- Condition of grout and silicone
Living in it
- Light in the main rooms
- Heating and cooling
- Storage and wardrobes
- Phone reception and NBN type
- Noise from neighbours or roads
Ask the agent
- Why are the owners selling?
- How long has it been on the market?
- Any building reports or approvals?
- Strata records and levies (units)
- What's included in the sale?
My score
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
You may also like
Pre-Settlement Inspection Checklist for Home Buyers, Australia (A4 PDF)
Home Loan Document Checklist: What Lenders Ask For, Australia (A4 PDF)
House Cleaning Checklist Printable, Room by Room, A4 PDF
