Open houses in Whitby

Arrive with a short list of questions the listing may not answer: how old the roof, the furnace and the windows are; whether water has ever come into the basement; what the property tax bill was last year; which schools the address is assigned to; and whether offers are being held. Open every closet, run the taps, look at the electrical panel and check the grading around the foundation. Walk to the corner and look both ways for what the photographs kept out of frame. If you like the house, do not linger to negotiate at the kitchen island. Book a private showing through your own agent, bring a tape measure and a flashlight, and take the time to read the documents: survey, permits, any Tarion paperwork and, for a condo, the status certificate.

Open houses run year-round in Whitby, but the calendar is fullest from March to June and again in September and October, when sellers time their launches to the school year and to gardens looking their best. Summer weekends thin out as families travel, and December is quiet. Winter open houses are worth the trip: fewer visitors, motivated sellers and a truthful look at how a house handles cold, drafts and snow on the driveway. In Brooklin and Taunton North, builders' model homes are open on their own schedules and are not listed here, so check with the team if you want to compare a resale against new construction on the same weekend.