Guide
Questions to Ask at a Showing or Open House
The questions that matter most fall into four buckets: the condition of the big-ticket systems, the true monthly cost of owning the home, what the neighborhood is actually like day to day, and why the sellers are leaving. Ask the same set at every house so you're comparing apples to apples afterward.
Condition & systems
- How old is the roof, and has it ever leaked?
- How old are the HVAC system and water heater?
- Have there been any major repairs — foundation, plumbing, electrical? Were they permitted?
- Are there any known issues with pests, mold, or water intrusion?
Cost of ownership
- What are the property taxes, and could they change significantly after a sale?
- What are the average monthly utility bills?
- If there's an HOA, what are the fees, and what do they actually cover?
- Are there any special assessments planned or pending?
Neighborhood & lifestyle
- What's the commute like at rush hour, not just on a map?
- What school district is this, and how are the schools rated?
- Is there street noise, or noise from neighbors, at different times of day?
- How's cell signal and internet service in the area?
The sellers' situation
- Why are the sellers moving?
- How long has the home been on the market, and has the price changed?
- Is this a competitive situation, or has interest been slow?
A quick note on who you're talking to: the agent hosting an open house usually represents the seller, not you. Factual questions about the property are fair game to ask directly — questions about your own offer strategy or budget are better saved for your own agent.
Ask the same questions every time
The value of a question isn't just the answer — it's being able to compare that answer across every house you tour. Asking about HOA fees at one showing and forgetting to ask at the next makes the two homes impossible to compare fairly later.
Property Notepad lets you save this list as your own scorecard, so you rate every property on the same questions and criteria, then compare the answers side by side once you've narrowed things down — instead of trying to remember which house had which answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most important question to ask at a showing?
Why the sellers are moving. The answer often surfaces things a listing won't — a job relocation says little about the house, but "we've outgrown it" or "the commute" can hint at real tradeoffs worth asking more about.
Should I ask questions in front of the seller's agent?
Yes, factual questions about the property (age of systems, repairs, HOA fees) are fine to ask directly. Save anything about your offer strategy or budget for your own agent — the seller's agent represents the seller, not you.
How do I remember the answers to all these questions across multiple showings?
Write them down as you go, tied to the specific property. After the third or fourth house in a day, answers blur together fast without notes.