Open home checklist: what to look for when viewing a house

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Open home checklist

0/21 checked

Address

Date and timeAgentPrice or sale method

01Outside0/6

Roof: rust, loose or missing tiles, sagging lines.
Gutters and downpipes: rust, leaks, and where the water goes.
Cladding: cracks, bulges, staining or soft spots, especially below windows and at corners.
Ground level: the soil should sit well below the floor and cladding, and slope away from the house.
Retaining walls and fences: leaning, cracking or bulging.
Decks and balconies: soft boards, rot, and how they join the house.

02Inside0/6

Smell for damp or mustiness when you first walk in.
Look for mould, stains or peeling paint on ceilings, in wardrobes and behind curtains.
Check walls and ceilings for cracks, especially above doors and windows.
Notice whether floors feel level and doors close properly.
Look for condensation or water marks on windows and sills.
Run the taps and shower to check water pressure and how long hot water takes.

03Under the house and in the roof space0/2

If you can look under the house: damp ground, piles that lean or have rotted, and loose insulation.
In the roof space, if there is a hatch: stains, daylight through the roof, and insulation.

04Services0/3

Hot water cylinder: its age (often on a label) and any leaks.
Switchboard: old ceramic fuses rather than modern switches can mean rewiring.
Heating and ventilation: heat pump, extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom.

05Sun, noise and the neighbourhood0/4

Which rooms and outdoor areas get sun, and at what time of day.
Traffic, flight path and neighbour noise.
Parking on the street, and the walk to transport and shops.
Mobile reception inside the house.

Notes

Would you go back?

First impression

How to use the checklist

An open home is usually 30 minutes, with other buyers around and the house looking its best. Go in with a plan: walk the outside first, then each room, and save questions for the agent until the end.

Bring a torch for under the house and the roof space, and look in wardrobes and behind curtains.
Visit at a different time if you’re serious: in heavy rain, at rush hour, or in the evening.
Take photos (ask first) so you can compare houses later.

What a viewing can’t tell you

You can spot warning signs at an open home, but you can’t see inside walls, check the wiring or measure moisture. If you’re serious about a house, get a building inspection from an inspector who reports to NZS 4306, and read the council LIM.

For houses built or reclad between about 1994 and 2004, the "leaky homes" era, ask the inspector to check weathertightness carefully, especially for monolithic (plaster-look) cladding.

The council’s maps can flag flooding, slips and coastal risks a viewing won’t show. Check any address free with our property summary.

Signs worth a closer look

What you notice	What it can mean
Musty smell, fresh paint in one spot	Damp or a leak being covered up
Cracks above doors and windows	The house has moved, sometimes from foundations or ground movement
Doors that stick, floors that slope	Foundation movement or rotten piles
Water marks on window sills	Condensation from a cold, damp house, or leaking joinery
Ceramic fuses on the switchboard	Old wiring that may need replacing
Silt, debris or water marks in the garage	Water has come through in heavy rain

Questions

Can I bring someone to an open home?

Yes. A builder friend, family member or a building inspector can help you see more. For a proper inspection, book a separate visit through the agent.

Can I look under the house or in the roof?

Ask the agent. Many will let you look in through the access hatch, but not crawl through.

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