Visiting a house can be an extremely exciting experience, especially if you are buying a house for the first time. However, you shouldn’t miss the details that you need to pay attention to!
In fact, it is a great start to know what you want and set your criterias before you start touring the houses. And we wanted to remind you what you should pay attention to next:
What is a House Tour?
Touring homes is one of the most exciting parts of the home buying process. The time has come when you can finally see them in person to see if the properties you like online really suit you.
Especially since you will visit more than one house in the same period, you should not neglect to take various notes and take photos. While you’re there, check everything: Open and close the doors, turn the light switches, test the water pressure, and don’t forget to look outside, too. Not every home is perfect, so try not to get hung up on small cosmetic details like paint and whitewash. However, you should always look out for some red flags when looking for a home, and your representative should be able to point out potential problems and answer your questions well as you explore together.
A private, in-person house tour is the best way to see a house in detail. Make sure you give yourself enough time to explore not only the house itself, but also the location features.
How to Prepare for a House Tour?
Before you start touring houses, do your research online and start clearing your must-have list. Then try to find homes to visit within your price range. We can list some of the elements that you should consider before you start touring the houses as follows:
Research the location: Take a few minutes before or after your house tour to check out the neighborhood. How does the environment make you feel? Is it active or quiet? Are there markets, hospitals, and other amenities nearby? How far are the schools?
If you are interested in making an offer for the home, you may want to do additional research online and ask your real estate agent more questions about the area.
Floor plan, number of rooms and space: Do you prefer an open space plan in a home or do you preffer privacy? When touring the house, it’s important to consider the functionality of the floor plan and layout and whether it will fit your lifestyle.
You should have already determined how many rooms you need before you start to tour, but when you start seeing the houses in person, do not forget to note the size of the rooms. Will the bedrooms offer enough space for your children as they grow? Is it big enough to turn a room into your much-needed private workspace?
Natural light and the direction it faces: If having plenty of natural light is high on your must-have list, you’ll want to note the amount of light each room can receive during the day. Is the house facing north or south? Typically, a south-facing home will receive the most sunlight during the day.
Style and age: Do you want a smart apartment or a detached villa with its own garden? As you browse the online alternatives, you will become clear about which type of real estate is more suitable for you and your lifestyle. And this will prevent you from wasting time by narrowing your search.
Do you want a turnkey house? Should the house you buy be ready to move in without wasting time, or do you want to renovate and arrange it yourself before you enter it? If you keep your eye on an old home, you should be aware of the innovations it needs and the time it takes to do so before making an offer.
Outdoor features: It is also important to determine what you need in terms of outdoor space. Do you want a large, open garden? Are you looking for an outdoor area with a pool or enough space to set up a pool? Or do you need a patio or terrace where you can enjoy the outdoors without taking responsibility for a big garden?
What Should Be Considered While Touring the House?
Be careful and attentive when touring a house, there is no reason to rush. Follow the general rules of courtesy, but do not be shy; open and close cabinets, flush toilets and remove the tape measure!
Let’s list the things you should pay attention to:
– Architectural style
– Number, location and size of bedrooms
– Number, location and size of bathrooms
– Wardrobe and storage spaces
– Number of floors
– Plumbing and water pressure
– Amount of natural light and views
– Noise levels inside and outside the house
– Open spaces
– Garage and/or parking lot
– Neighbour proximity
– Renovation needs
– Condition of roof and gutters
– Wall and floor condition such as uneven flooring or mismatched flooring
– Condition of electrical installation
– Heating and cooling
Don’t forget to go around the entire house and property. Pay attention to the age and condition of the roof and siding. Does landscaping seem like it will take a lot of time? If you don’t want to hire a gardener every month, you may want to head for an easy-to-care-for outdoor home.
Take Notes and Take Photos During the Tour
It is possible that you will confuse the houses you visit after a while, so it is important to take photos/videos and notes while visiting each house. In particular, document your likes and dislikes. By examining them afterwards, you can catch up new details abut the real estate.
Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent
Professional real estate agents tour many different houses every day. That’s why it’s so important to work with someone you can trust for unique highlights or flaws that you can miss. This depends on whether she/he can be your representative as well as the house. Here are the questions you should be able to ask your real estate agent at any time:
– Do you have any concerns about this house?
– Is the price of the house reasonable?
– How long has this house been on the market?
– How many offers were made?
– Do you think the house will be sold quickly?
– Why is the house for sale?
– How old is the house?
– What improvements have the seller made to the house?
– Any repairs needed?
– What types of heating and cooling systems are available?
– How old is the electrical and plumbing?
– How old is the roof?
– When was the last time the floors were renewed?
– What is included in the sale of the house?
– Is it the first owner who sells the house?
Red Flags to Watch Out for
There are also a few potential danger signs to watch out for as you tour your potential homes:
Excessive odor – If the house you are visiting is dominated by an extremely strong air freshener or essential oil, this may indicate that an attempt is made to mask a bad odor. Be sure to do more research about the symptoms caused by plumbing problems or mold etc.
Water spots – If you notice water spots anywhere in the house, there may be an underlying plumbing problem, which can lead to costly repairs later on. If you decide to submit a proposal, you may want to take note of it and talk about the solution.
Lack of maintenance – Watch for signs that the homeowner neglects regular maintenance, such as burnt out light bulbs, fading paint, and leaky faucets. Imagine what bigger problems were avoided if they didn’t take care of these small ones.
Key issues – Is it difficult to open doors and windows? Noticeable cracks around door sills or windows? These could be indicators of underlying home issues.
A sagging ceiling – If you notice that the ceiling is sagging, this is an indication of a larger structural problem.
Fresh paint – While it’s natural to paint a house before it’s for sale, only one wall painted should catch your attention, trust your instincts. This could be a sign that they are trying to cover up an issue.
Buying a home requires a lot of compromise and patience. Falling in love with a house at first sight isn’t a bad thing, but be aware that you may be facing some rivalries. Be prepared to make multiple bids before you find the right house at the right price.
Also, stick to your budget when making an offer. When most buyers find out that a home with a lower list price will sell for much more, they’re usually already invested and willing to bid to “win” the home. However, no matter how much you like a house, don’t overlook the details that will put you in a difficult situation later on. You might not think something is a big deal right now, but it could pose a potential health risk or lead to costly repairs later on.
We are here as GRAND Real Estate, to help you find the home that best suits your needs and lifestyle, considering everything that matters to you. You can feel safe on your search with our expert team and you can make this important decision with pleasure. Let every visit you make to your home be a celebration!
