What do you look at when inspecting a house at an open house?

[Lulu]

Noooooo incense! It is powerful and heaps of people don't like it. I luuurve it so I have no idea what's wrong with them.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I'm with Lulu, I love soft smells, a lot of incense gives me headaches... something natural, food, cakes etc appeals to me more!!! LOL

[Spring Angel]

Arrange for any pets to be elsewhere for the inspection. Also take the family out for the hour or so. I've been to many inspections where the owner and kids are home and I find it really uncomfortable. Like I'm intruding.

[Arimeh]

Arrange for any pets to be elsewhere for the inspection. .

Eek thats gonna be hard, we have 2 inside cats and a dog... and nowhere to really take them!

Point taken on the incense...

[Pretty Butterfly]

we had 5 cats!!! we locked them in the garage, then for the last couple, the garden shed for the 45 mins....

[Miss.September]

I know if I was looking for a house I'd be checking kitchen cupboards, linen cupboards and wardrobes - because we lack space in ours so I wouldn't want that to happen again. Bedroom space would be a big one for me too, sometimes just moving the furniture around can make things look bigger. My stepmother is an estate agent and she swears by cookies or cakes baking - never bread. I'm not one to worry about pets, but I can see that others would. Can you take the dog for a walk during the inspection? Good luck. I hope someone falls in love with it.

[Arimeh]

Ooooh taking the dog for a walk. Yup, can do that. DUnno if the cats would join us though.. bahahaha

[Snowy Love]

Definately lock the cats up - we had ours at the cattery for the open houses 'cause DH was o/s & DS & I were at my parents, failing that can you put them in a carrier and take them for a drive while the open house is on? I was worried about them escaping 'cause all the doors were open.

[Cassius2]

for us it was the light. we needed natural light...

then it was cleanliness and a decluttered place so that yeah we could get an idea of space etc.

(we were totally turned off by places that were obviously trying too hard lol...made me think they had something to hide or wanted too much for the place lol).

[Bathsheba]

Oh and we didn't look in many cupboards... But we are super polite... Many people go through everything. I would possibly seal any cupboard with clear tape if you don't want people opening that door. Tell the agent it's to protect valuables... Inspection theft is a growing problem.

[~Kim~]

I haven't bought through an OH but earlier this year we had 15 OH in an effort to sell ours.

I'd probably take down the posters. We were told to be as neutral as possible. For us that meant getting rid of anything police related obviously won't relate to you but you get the idea) and huge family photos.

Going against the grain a bit with the smells thing. While baking/coffee/food is great if you have a house that needs 'cozying', but in a newer house I think that freshness is the key. ie open the windows for a bit to let the air through and if you have to have a 'smell' go with what Bath suggested in a subtle vaporised oil. Overpowering smells make me suspicious of smoking and or pet smells, and as someone who doesn't smoke or have pets that would put us right off.

I would never go through someone's cupboards, but I am an organiser and cupboard space is important to me so I like to have a look at their depth. But that's just me.
You really can't pre-empt every person that could come through your house either, so I understand how tough it is.

[Bathsheba]

Yep no incense! I like it in my own home but it also reminds me of the share houses full of hippy students of my youth. People generally like the idea of moving into a space that generates a more prosperous vibe than living off a student allowance IYKWIM?

[RhiChiChi]

The things I looked for apart from expensive repairs/replacements were:

- Cupboard space - I open all cupboards. In particular linen cupboards, bedroom & kitchen cupboards
- Space of the rooms & where my furniture would go/fit (we were not buying anything new)
- The outside yard - very important for us as that was one of the reasons for us to move. How big, anything that seemed dangerous for DD
- General cleanliness. One house I was totally put off by b/c from the outside if was lovely but inside it looked like a tip & they were dirty / hadn't
cleaned. I couldn't get passed it and see the positives in the house....

When we had OH, I made sure it was generally clean & tidy, no dishes in the sink/on benches, rubbish bin emptied (so no smells), DD toys put away, rooms easily able to be walked into & around, fresh flowers, lights on, blinds opened, all doors to all rooms (except toilet) open, cupboards tidy so that nothing fell out! I went into one OH & opened a bedroom cupboard & a rolled up sleeping bag fell out on my head! It was funny put a pain to put it back in the cupboard b/c it was from right up top (I am short).

[megs]

With regard to the cupboards the main ones is all I would be looking at, which is pantry, linen press and probably Master bedroom, just to see depth, hanging space etc etc. I wouldn't feel a need to go through absolutely every cupboard.

I agree on the incense, I find it overpower, an oil burner would probably let of a nicer scent

[Bathsheba]

Food smells can be a bit too personal... And given the frequency of pregnant women who attend open days I too would avoid cooking smells... But that's just me.

Eta: snap Kim... I agree!

[skybie]

And insence, iwent to an open once and felt like i could hardly breathe! DD1 asked what the smell was pmsl