With rising house prices and interest rates, more people are switching to renting rather than buying a single-family home. However, finding a single-family home to rent is somewhat similar to buying one. This is especially true when it comes to open houses.
Many landlords will open their single-family homes to the public when searching for new tenants. This is ideal for renters who want to ensure the home they choose to rent meets their expectations.
But if you’ve never attended an open home before, it can be tricky to know where to start. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the key things to look out for when attending an open house for a single-family rental.
The Condition of the House
When buying a house, you’ll often have a home inspection carried out, but as a renter, it’s more often down to you to seek out damage and defects. Attending an open house lets you take a peek behind the curtain, and if you know what to look for, it can be a great way to discover what state the house is in.
A few small areas of damage aren’t normally the end of the world and in most cases, the landlord will take care of them before your tenancy begins. However, extensive issues are a huge red flag and it’s worth looking elsewhere.
Here are some of the main things to keep an eye out for.
1. Damp Patches and Mold
Damp patches are often visible as a dark stain, typically around plumbing fixtures, but also on ceilings, walls, and floors. More often than not, you’ll also be able to smell a damp area, so use your nose to detect musky, wet aromas.
Mold and mildew tend to go hand in hand with damp issues and are characterized by fuzzy and sometimes slimy spots that vary in color, from white and pink to green and black. Black mold is a particular concern that can cause health problems after prolonged exposure. Mold hot spots include plumbing features, around windows and doors, and curtains.
2. Peeling Paint
If the paint is peeling on external woodwork, the protective layer is gone and the wood may already be rotting, which can lead to larger problems later on. Inside, peeling paint can indicate damp problems, but can also suggest a general lack of maintenance. Bathroom ceilings are particularly prone to peeling if humidity levels are high.
3. Damaged Fixings, Fittings, and Appliances
Again, damaged items in the home can suggest neglect by the owner and can lead to larger problems down the line. Broken extractor fans can be a cause of damp and mold, so be sure to check these out too. A quick and easy test is to switch them on and put a piece of paper against the face of the extractor. If it’s working properly, it’ll hold the paper in place.
4. Leaks and Blockages
As well as examining the general condition of your potential new home, it’s always a good idea to spend some time looking at the plumbing too. Leaking faucets or toilet cisterns may not be a huge issue at first glance, but they can lead to high water bills over time. Meanwhile, other leaks can cause much more damage. A leaking waste pipe will soon damage the floor and cause damp and mold issues.
When viewing an open home, don’t be afraid to run the taps and check for leaks and blockages. A slow-draining shower or a toilet that backs up are normally easy enough to fix, but they should be dealt with before you move in if you choose to rent the home.
5. Drafty Doors and Windows
It’s worth checking doors and windows for drafts while you’re looking around. If left unattended, a drafty window or door will lead to mounting energy bills as your heating and cooling systems struggle to keep up with the constant escape of warm or cool air from the home.
6. Pests
Pests come in all shapes and sizes, from near-invisible fleas to larger rodents. The damage they can cause is something they all have in common, however. Look for holes in the walls or cupboards that might enable rodents to enter the house, as well as signs of droppings.
Smaller pests can be more difficult to detect, but look out for pinholes in drywalls that may indicate termite damage, channels and holes in the woodwork, and some of the many other signs of pests.
Features of the Home
As well as examining the condition of the property, spend time during an open house looking out for the things that you’d like from your new home.
1. Storage
Storage is often undervalued, but renting a home with inadequate storage will soon have an impact on you. As you walk around the home, check for handy storage areas, such as cupboards, wardrobes, garden sheds, and shelves.
2. Layout
Any home you prospect should work for you and your family. With that in mind, think about whether the layout of the house will be a pleasure or a pain. Ensure the house has enough bedrooms and bathrooms for your needs, as well as communal areas.
3. Parking
Most single-family homes will offer some form of parking, be it a garage, driveway, or just on the street. As you enter the home, look around for parking spaces and if you’re unsure, check with the landlord or their agent.
4. Security
Check that the doors and windows have adequate locking mechanisms and look out for other security features, such as motion lights, alarm systems, and cameras. With more entry points than a typical apartment, security in a single-family home should be tighter.
5. Furnishings and Appliances
Be sure to check what furnishings and appliances are included with the rental. Some homes may be staged during the open house, but are rented unfurnished. Be sure to clarify if this is the case so you can budget for the necessary items if you go ahead with the rental.
