Take note, house hunters: when it comes to property inspections, you must be prepared. If you only have 30 minutes to inspect a house, you'll want to make the most of it.

In reality, some people may only be able to inspect a home once or twice before deciding whether or not they want to make the major decision to buy it, and the last thing you want is an unpleasant surprise after you get the keys and see the house vacant and ready for you to move in.

To ensure you make the most of the next open inspection you attend, we have brainstormed a list of suggestions for how to best take advantage of the valuable house hunting time you have.

Take photos:

Photographs seen on listings may not show you everything you need to know about a property. We strongly advise you to take your own images of the property from all angles to ensure you are completely aware of any elements of the property that may not be visible in the photos advertised online. For instance, if you notice something that looks like it needs repairs or you want to see the inside layout of the built-in robes, taking photos will come in handy in the long run. It is super simple but also a very beneficial process because you won’t always have access to the property but you do always have access to your camera roll for future reference.

Stay open minded and remember some things can be changed:

Certain aspects of properties can be altered and updated. The home may not tick every single box, but if the property you are inspecting offers most of the specifications that you are looking for such as the location, number of bedrooms, or land size for example then you are able to look past other features that can easily be changes such as fixtures, paint colours and the flooring.

Take your time:

Open inspections generally go for 30 minutes, so make the most of them. Arrive on time to the open so you can take in as much information as possible. You don't want to feel rushed or put yourself at a disadvantage.

Ask the real estate agents questions:

If you don't ask, you won't find out everything you need to know about a property. You might wish to write down any pressing questions you want to ask the agent when you've finished inspecting the property. Questions concerning the land, settlement circumstances, whether you're authorised to develop/rebuild, and whether the vendor has had any conflicts with neighbours are just a few examples of areas to cover when asking questions.

Your inspection shouldn’t stop at the house, take note of the properties and streets in the area:

Before or after the inspection, take a walk down the street to get a sense of the location, your neighbours, and the noise. Have you noticed any new construction? How far are you from public transportation, shops, and restaurants? Is there anything to be concerned about in terms of traffic?

Simply watching the property's surroundings can provide you with valuable information that you wouldn't receive from simply inspecting the property.

Love the property? Don’t hesitate to make it yours:

If after inspecting the property you feel like the home is a winner, provide the agent with your contact details to get the process started. You want to stay updated about what's going on with the property and have a line of communication with the agent. You don't want to miss out on your dream property because you waited too long, as some homes sell quickly following the initial open inspection!