We know the feeling. You spend your Saturday dashing from suburb to suburb, fighting for a parking spot, and shuffling through hallways with a dozen other people. By the third home open, everything starts to blur.

It is easy to leave a property realising you remember the scent of the candles but have no idea if the roof was sagging or if the floorplan actually works for your life.

To help you reclaim your Saturdays, we have developed a 10-minute strategy. Here is how to filter out the noise and focus on what matters during a viewing.

⏱️ Minutes 0-2: The Deal Breakers

Don’t get distracted by the furniture styling just yet. Start with the fundamentals that you cannot change.

  • The Street Appeal: What is the traffic noise like? Are the neighbouring properties well-kept?
  • The Orientation: Where is the sun? A north-facing living area can save you a fortune in heating bills and make the home significantly more comfortable.
  • The Flow: Does the floorplan make sense? If you are a shift worker, a main bedroom next to the kitchen might be a nightmare. If you have toddlers, you might want bedrooms grouped together.

Pro Tip: If the location or layout is a hard “no,” you have just saved yourself time. Feel free to leave early and beat the traffic to the next one.

🔎 Minutes 2-7: The ‘Big Ticket’ Scan

Now, look for the things that cost real money to fix. You aren’t looking for perfection; you are looking for patterns of neglect.

  • Walls & Ceilings: Scan for cracks, water stains, or bubbling paint. A small scuff is fine; a damp patch on the ceiling is a red flag.
  • Floors: Do they feel solid? Bounce on your heels slightly. Spongy, uneven, or creaky floors can indicate sub-floor issues.
  • The Wet Areas: In the bathroom and laundry, check the corners, around the shower screen, and under the vanity. You are looking for swelling cabinetry or mould, which hints at waterproofing failure.
  • Windows & Doors: Do they stick? If a door won’t close properly or a window is jammed, it could suggest structural movement.

🏡 Minutes 7-10: The Livability Test

Finally, switch gears from “inspector” to “resident.” Can you actually live here?

  • The Noise Test: Stand still in the main bedroom for 20 seconds. Can you hear the neighbours, the road, or a barking dog?
  • The Stuff Test: Open the linen cupboard and pantry. Storage is often the number one regret for buyers after they move in—make sure there is enough.
  • The Airflow: Does the home feel stuffy? Cross-ventilation matters in Perth summers.

The Right Questions to Ask

Don’t be shy. As REIWA members, our agents are there to help you. Before you leave, ask these four questions to gauge your competition and the seller’s position:

  1. “What level of interest have you had so far, and are there any offers on the table?”
  2. “Are there any known issues with the property or recent repairs I should know about?”
  3. “What are the outgoings?” (Ask specifically about Council rates, Water rates, and Strata levies if applicable).
  4. “What is exactly included in the sale?” (Never assume the dishwasher, fancy blinds, or the pool creepy-crawly are staying).

📱 Work Smarter, Not Harder

A home open is just the first step. If a property passes the 10-minute test, it’s time to dig deeper from the comfort of your own couch.

Use the interactive maps on reiwa.com to do your due diligence. This tool is a goldmine for WA buyers—it allows you to view block dimensions, check suburb boundaries, see zoning info, and even overlay flood and bushfire prone areas.

Found a place that passed the test? Reach out to our team today to organise a private second viewing.