Don’t know quite what you’re looking for in a Maui home? Luckily, there is a solution. While online listings can reveal a valuable wealth of information on the properties that are currently on the market, sometimes you just have to go explore in person. You could have us set up showings for specific properties that you’re interested in, or you could refer to our Maui open houses list and drop by any number of these properties on your own. The list of open houses is updated daily, so if you’re on the island, you can simply check in the morning and plan which ones you want to check out when throughout the day.
Exploring the various open house listings is a great way to get a sense of what you like and what you don’t like based on first hand impressions that you get while on the property. In fact, there are a number of things that an open house visit can reveal to you, which are helpful whether you’re an experienced buyer or you’re diving into the market for the first time. You just need to know what to look for and what to ask about. Let’s get into some of the specifics.
If you arrive toward the end of the open house schedule, you can take a peek at the sign-in sheet to see how many people have come to look at the property. The more names you see, the more competitive the market tends to be.
Observe the other people viewing the open house. If you find that many of them are asking the agent questions, the home is likely to be well-priced. If they seem to be drifting in and out without much interest, it may not be well-priced, or there could be other problems with the property.
Take a look at the DOM (days on market) of the property. New listings often draw an excited crowd, while older listings can be overlooked. Sometimes the latter can provide you with a better opportunity. Just because a property has been listed for 100 days or more doesn’t mean it’s a bad property. It may be that the listing price is a bit high, which means the seller may be more open to negotiating the price down as time goes by. Another possibility is that the property may have had a contract right off the bat, but it fell apart, which could easily be because something went wrong on the buyer’s end.
Ask the agent about the history of the home, and find out what renovations, if any, have been completed in recent years.Think about what you would change about the home, and consider the costs. Just don’t get caught up on superficial details like the paint colors, the curtains, the furnishings, or anything else that you find unattractive. Instead, think in terms of structural quality, including layout, flooring, storage space, electricity, plumbing, countertops, etc.
If you need more guidance on viewing Maui homes, you’ll find our contact information at the bottom of the page. In the meantime, you can find our current Maui open house list here, and refer back to it as often as you need to. If you need our assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Mahalo!