10 QUESTIONS TO ASK AT AN OPEN HOUSE

1) What's the reason for the sale?

Your goal is to understand if the reason for the sale is personal or due to an issue with the house or area. Don't be surprised if the listing agent (open house host) is generally vague with this answer. It's their job to keep the Motives, Terms and Values and personal information of their client confidential by law in Massachusetts. However, asking the question is not unusual and often times the Sellers Representative will offer some insight. If you're interested in the home, you can have your own real estate agent follow up with the listing agent.

2) What are the biggest problems with the house, anything I should know?

Every house has some issues. This is the time to find out what they might be. In Massachusetts a seller is not required by law to disclose any property conditions, except the federally required law to disclosure knowledge regarding lead paint. However a licensed real estate agent in Massachusetts must disclose property defects they are aware of, so you can ask the agent for more details on any issues they may be aware of.

Here are some specific questions to ask the agent about the condition of the home:

• Do you know if there are any water problems in the basement?

• How old are the utilities (Heating, Water Heater, Appliances, Electrical System, Septic System, etc..)

• How old is the roof, windows, siding and when was the last time the home was painted?

• Has there been any fire damage? Any storm damage (ice dams, trees falling on the home)

An agent may not know all these answers, many of these questions will be answered when/if you have a home inspection on the home also.

3) What are the average utility costs?

Older houses tend to be less energy efficient, and can come with heftier utility bills than you'd expect. On the other hand, the owners may have an installed top-of-the-line HVAC system, put in double-paned windows, and invested in other energy-saving upgrades. The listing agent will know, or be able to find out, the average monthly cost for utilities. It's a good idea to ask for a typical monthly cost in the winter and in the summer, so you can compare how much the energy use might fluctuate seasonally.

4) Has there been any price changes on the home?

The listing agent will know the history of the house, if the listing price has dropped or increased, and the reasons for any change in price. Was the house listed much too high for the area? Or are there major issues that are keeping buyers away?

In your discussion on price, you can ask other questions to get an idea of the urgency of the sellers:

How long has the house been on the market? Have there been other offers on the house? Are the sellers eager to negotiate? Are the sellers in a hurry to sell?

You may not get direct answers to all these questions, but they're still worth asking. If you are genuinely interested in the property, talking with the agent can give you insight on what matters most to the sellers. If they're in a hurry to move, for example, they might accept a lower offer with a rushed closing date.

5) What can you tell me anything about the area/neighborhood?

Is there a neighborhood association?

Ask the agent about the nearest places for shopping, entertainment, and dining out. Are there any parks or natural attractions nearby? What do people in this area like to do for fun? What's the best restaurant nearby? Do you know what the average income is for this area? Where is the nearest hospital?

Room by Room Questions:

6) Kitchen

Which appliances are included? How old are they? Have there been any major updates or renovations in the kitchen? Are there any water issues in the kitchen? Have there been any major repairs in the kitchen?

7) Basement

Are there any water issues in the basement? Is there a sump pump installed? Have there been any issues with mold?

8) Livingrooms and Bedrooms

How old is the carpet? What's underneath the carpet? Have the rooms been recently painted? Are the window treatments included? Have there been any renovations or updates done lately?

9) Bathrooms

Are there any water issues in the bathrooms? How is the water pressure? (Ask if you can check it.) How recently have the bathroom fixtures been updated? Do the vent fans exhaust outside the home?

10) Yard

Where is the septic system located? Does the landscaping allow water to flow away from the house? Are there any wet or soggy areas in the yard? Have the owners done regular pest control? Are there any issues with the yard or garden?

Open House Etiquette

Don't forget to sign in; in the world we live in today, this is for the safety of everyone there and the sellers. People who don’t/won’t sign in may even be turned away. Legibly write your name and contact information and name of your Representative if you are working exclusively with one. Be sure to greet the listing agent. Be friendly, this should be fun and interactive. Let the agent know you have questions, but don't keep them from being able to interact with other visitors. Discuss, don't dominate. Don't bring pets (unless required for a handicap). Don't ask to use the bathroom or run appliances, don't go through personal drawers, don't pull up carpets to see if there are hardwoods underneath, don't turn on or off heating and A/C systems.  Once you have an offer on a home, you'll have a full home inspection to examine all of these items.

Expect to answer a few questions about yourself, such as "How long have you been looking?" A good listing agent will be trying to determine who's a serious buyer and who's there for the free cookies!