Things to Look For

at an Open Inspection

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of an open inspection for what could be your next home.

While your heart always has a say in your choice of home, your head needs to play a part too. Whether you’re in the market to buy or rent, these are the top 10 things that we think a deserve closer look at an open inspection.

Cracks in walls or sagging floors can be a sign of a faulty structure or sinking foundation. Stained or saggy ceilings can mean that the roof is leaking too. If you’re buying a home, a detailed inspection is worth every cent, as you’ll have a written report of potential problems.

Natural light always makes a room feel warmer and more welcoming, and are almost guaranteed to make the occupants feel happier too! When having a look around, make sure to take notice of the house's orientation. North facing rooms and windows will be light and bright in winter, whereas south facing ones will tend to be darker. Look at what kind of light rooms that you'll be spending a lot of time in get, like the living room.

Mould and flaking paint in wet areas like bathrooms are a sign of poor ventilation. This can not only be expensive to fix but a potential health hazard as well. Make sure rooms have adequate ventilation, and exhaust fans are in good working condition.

On a beautiful spring day, things like gutters and drainage are probably the furthest thing from your mind. But it’s worth having a look to see if there are any obvious problems. Are gutters full of leaves from nearby trees? Are downpipes in good condition? Check the wood beneath gutters too.

If there’s one thing almost everyone wishes they had more of at home, it’s storage. When looking through a beautifully styled home, it’s easy to forget that your stuff will need a home too. Look for things like built-in wardrobes in the bedrooms, pantry space in the kitchen and other cupboards for storage. If there’s a garden, a shed for your mower and gardening gear can be handy!

Can you hear street noise from the bedroom? Does the neighbour have a barking dog? Look at the businesses near the home too. Service stations, fast food outlets and pubs can be noisy places, especially at night, so it pays to be aware of what kind of noise will be surrounding your home.

You may have found your dream suburb, but it's worth taking a further look around. Proximity to parks, public transport and supermarkets can make a big difference to your daily commute and your ability to ‘pop down the shops’. You might not be worried about schools now but if you’re thinking of starting a family, knowing where the local schools are or what zone you're in can come in handy down the line.

Trees add visual appeal and create much needed shade in summer, but trees that are too close to the home not only fill the gutters and downpipes with leaves, their roots can play havoc with pipes and drainage. Large gum trees can also drop branches during dry spells. Keep in mind too that in many areas of Adelaide, large trees are protected and even removal of branches may need council approval.

Does the home have off street parking? Is it under cover? Is there somewhere for visitors to park? Will you feel secure when leaving the car and getting inside during the depths of winter? Making sure you and your car are safe all year is an important consideration.

With Adelaide’s roads getting busier all the time, public transport has become the preferred option for many. Even if you’re currently driving to work, it’s worth knowing if you’re within walking distance of a bus or tram stop, or a train station.