Attending open home inspections in search of your ideal property is an exciting time, however it can also be exhausting and frustrating too.

To help you make the best property choice, it’s a good idea, before attending open home inspections that you have a clear idea and a list of your next property’s ‘must haves’, as opposed to the things you would ‘like to have’. For instance, you may have two teenage children, so one of your ‘must haves’ is having a bedroom for each child. You may also work as a tradesperson, so having a secure garage for at least two cars plus tool storage is a priority. Your ‘like to haves’ may include a theatre room and a second living area – these are the features that are great if you can get them, but can be compromised or renovations done to achieve them at a later time.

You should also consider further investigating a property that fundamentally fulfils your ‘must haves’, except for a few issues that are holding you back from purchasing.

Rather than eliminating the property based on these issues, have a closer look and judge, or get an expert’s opinion on whether these issues may have an easy and inexpensive solution? You may even save yourself a lot of money by purchasing and doing the rectifying work yourself.

When attending open home inspections, have your list handy and check your ‘must have’ items off. Then take a note of any issues; and perhaps take photos of them, for you to evaluate and research your options.

Here are a few examples of issues and fixes:

Construction
Poor construction of walls or floors may seem like a huge issue, but may be easy to fix. Some walls can be demolished to open up areas of the house, and floors fixed or new floors placed over the top to gain what you are looking for.

Unappealing design
Don’t be discouraged by the ugly tiles in the perfectly sized bathroom or kitchen. Tiles can easily be replaced. Many hardware stores also have easily constructed modern flat-pack cabinetry, and many can also install custom made timber or stone bench tops.

Not enough storage
If there is a lack of storage, consider building a shed, built-in wardrobes, or purchase a lovely set of drawers to serve your needs.

Air conditioning
If there isn’t any heating or cooling in the property, it is often easy to install air conditioning – and it certainly adds value to the property. Also consider insulation to keep the temperature constant and to reduce your power bills.

Unappealing backyard
The backyard is often full of opportunities. Adding a pergola, BBQ area, paving and beautiful gardens are all straightforward projects that will not break the bank.

Finally, when attending an open home inspection, don’t hesitate to ask the Sales Consultant as many questions as you like. The Sales Consultant is usually a great resource for the best local tradespeople to gain quotes on any issues you want addressed.

For any real estate advice, contact our highly experienced sales professionals on 4628 7444.