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Asking Questions During An Open House in Denver CO

Posted on: November 15th, 2016 by , No Comments

Whether you like or dislike asking questions during an open house in Denver, don’t buy until you’ve asked these questions.

During an open house it’s critical to know what you’re buying  -plus the weather we have had in Denver Colorado is pure bliss. What better time to spend looking for a house and being out there in the field than before the winter comes. Investors have been getting very creative in the renovations of distressed homes these days. It’s also crucial to get a back history on what’s been going on with the house and it’s neighborhood. It may lead you to know what’s going to happen in the future. Whether you want to buy or if it’s on to the next one.

1. What To Ask In The Kitchen

Kitchen is one of the first during an open house to ask questions. If it has linoleum floors, boldly printed wallpaper that pains the eyes, and wood paneling, you can bet the kitchen hasn’t seen a remodel since the 1970’s. Refrigerators last, on average, 11 years; gas ranges, 16 years; electric ranges, 14 years; range hoods, 14 years; ovens, 14 years; and dishwashers, nine years. Ask, “Is the kitchen fully functionally and were all the appliances properly installed? Any prior history of kitchen fires or leaks in any of the plumbing?” Always think in terms of safety hazards and reliability.

2. What To Ask In The Bedrooms

The biggest thing you’ll probably care about is not the smallest bedroom in the house, but the master bedroom. Many Realtors will have the dimensions of the room. You want to make moving into the house as easy as possible. If you cannot find any specific numbers as to verifying if your Sleep Number mattress will fit, don’t hesitate to ask for permission to measure. Always bring a tape measure during an open house!

3. What To Ask In The Living Room

If you’re walking into a carpeted home, be sure to inquire about what is underneath the carpets. If you’re able to pull back a portion and actually take a look, do so. The last thing you want to find out is that you’re dealing with subflooring that has major issues. Picture this, you’ve closed on the house only a month later to find this out. That’s not going to be a good position for you if to step on a loose board while playing with the kids during an open house!

4. What To Ask In The Bathrooms

Most people are shy during an open house. They figure since it’s someone else’s house they can’t look around. Lots of problems could be happening in the bathrooms. Ask about knocking pipes during a shower or bath, which could lead to a leak or a pipe coming free from its mountings. Low water pressure, dripping sinks, bad drainage, and not enough hot water are other potential problems you should know about. Buyers shouldn’t be afraid to turn on the faucets to check the water pressure and to see if there is hot water. Try before you buy during an open house!

5. What To Ask While Outside

Regarding the yard, ask if there was a recent land survey done to find out where the property lines are. You’ll want to know just how much land you’re buying. If the seller’s agent states it’s legal to have family guests in the tiny house in the back, get it in writing. Get everyone disclosed in writing. You should also inquire about any homeowners’ association regulations regarding fencing or a pool. And if there is a pool or hot tub, inquire about its functionality during an open house.

6. Ask About Any Additions

One thing that can be misleading is if the bedrooms of the house don’t match what’s on county records. Additions must be permitted and recorded with the county to be legal. No matter how great or beautifully finished the add on is, you must verify that it’s a legal addition and was done properly. Two reasons: 1. If not, you’ll most likely be asked by the city to tear it down and the value of your house will drop dramatically in price. 2. It’s a safety hazard because the last thing you want is the home’s roof to collapse in because the beams were not constructed correctly.

7. Speaking Of The Roof

Speaking of the roof. This is one of those foundation things that makes a house what it is. Without proper structure, you can have a very beautiful house that won’t make it through a snow storm in Colorado. Ask the roof’s age and what kind of roof it is. Depending on the roof’s type, it could last anywhere between 15 and 50-plus years. In general, asphalt shingles last 15 to 20 years; metal roofs last 20 to 40 years; wood shingle and shake roofs last 20 to 30 years; and tile and slate roofs last 50 or more years. You don’t need to become a professional roofer, however, prevention is better than cure.

All in all during an open house

Okay, don’t be intimidated by an open house. The goal of this post is to get you to absolutely know what you’re buying. Don’t feel obligated to make an offer on something you don’t get a good feeling about. Go with your gut. An additional question to ask before departing the open house is, “Is there anything else I must know before making an offer?” This way you can get your Realtor talking to bring up someone you may have not thought about asking.

Adam Buys Houses Company buys houses all over Denver Colorado. If you have a house or condo you need to sell, give us a call directly today at 303-997-2045 or simply click here to sell a Denver house.

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