Most real estate shoppers today begin their searches online, by learning about neighborhoods, connecting with real estate agents, and scouting listings. Visiting an open house is often the next step in the process. There's a ton you can learn by being attentive when touring your potential new home. But you won't be the only one coming to visit, so it's important to come with a strategy for learning everything you need to know. Our real estate agents are here to help you prepare, with a guide to five things you definitely won't want to miss when touring an open house.

Open House 101: Five Key Things to Look for When Touring an Open House

Let's say your searching through Las Vegas homes for sale, and you want to create a priority list for when you visit an open house. You'll want to be thinking about the condition of the home, how well it feeds your needs, and whether everything looks as great in person as it does in the listing photos.

1. Analyze the Exterior
   You can learn a ton about a home before you even walk through the door, by taking a walk around the exterior of the home. If the paint is fresh, the structure is sturdy, and the roof is healthy, that's a good sign that the home has been well-maintained. If you find tiny but noticeable maintenance issues everywhere you turn, however, that's a real red flag.
   
   
2. Squeaky Clean
   Whether indoors or out, a clean, organized home is the least you can expect when visiting an open house. So a home that has been scrubbed top to bottom, smells great, and looks clean is a good sign, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the home is in great shape otherwise. If you walk into an open house and the home is not clean – or worse yet, filled with funky odors – then it may simply be time to move on to the next home on your list.
   
   
3. Check the Competition
   Are you touring a home that really caught your eye online? Then you can be sure that other interested buyers will be doing the same! Scouting out the competition is an important step when attending an open house because gauging the interest level of others will be a big help when it's time to get serious about putting together an offer.
   
   
4. Learn the Layout
   Is the home large enough to cover all of your needs? Do the rooms look as large in person as they do in online photos? Take the time to learn which types of layouts you like before visiting open houses, so that you can compare each home to your ideal layout. If you're not quite sure what type of layout you want, visiting open houses is a great way to get ideas.
   
   
5. Deferred Maintenance
   Keeping an eye out for potential red flags is a key step in finding a home you'll love long-term, and deferred maintenance is one of the biggest red flags on the list. The signs of deferred maintenance can be simple, like peeling caulk around windows, leaky faucets in the bathrooms, or stains in the ceilings from leaks. If the owner of the home hasn't taken care of the basics, there may be more serious maintenance issues lurking below the surface.

As you tour open houses, you will naturally get a better idea of the features, floor plans, and neighborhoods you like best. Writing down notes after each open house is a great way to compile all that you learn, and gives you plenty of information to lean on when it's time to make the big decision. Remember that your needs are the most important thing when shopping for a home, and keeping your most important needs in mind will help you evaluate each home based on the standards that matter most to you.

When you're ready to find your next Las Vegas home, our experienced real estate team is here to help you every step of the way. Contact Wardley Real Estate to buy, sell, and learn about homes in the Las Vegas, NV area.