What to Look For When Touring Homes?
On the surface, touring homes sounds pretty self-explanatory; you walk in and see if you like it, right? While your overall impression of the home is of course important, there are a few additional aspects that my clients and I always investigate to gain additional information. Here is a list of items that you don't want to miss when touring homes as a buyer:
Look Out for Signs of Deferred Maintenance: If the owners haven't taken care of the little things, we can't be confident they went out of their way to take care of the big things. Some examples include chipping paint, damaged/missing roof shingles, or rotting deck boards. Signs of deferred maintenance are typically an indication to look closely at the home's major elements and systems.
Be Aware of Smells (Good and Bad!): Does the basement smell musty? This could indicate moisture issues. Odors from pets or smoking are also something to consider, as they may need to be handled by a professional to remedy. Strong good smells (candles, air fresheners, cleaners, etc.) can also be a red flag. While not always, they can sometimes be used to conceal undesirable odors.
Identify the Age and Condition of Major Systems: Locate the furnace, water heater, electrical panel(s), and A/C unit (if there is one). Most of the time, you should be able to identify the serial number, model number, or permit, which should provide an installation date. Be aware if these systems are nearing the end of their useful life and may need to be replaced soon.
Consider the Time of Day You're Viewing: If you really like the home, consider stopping by the property at another time of day. For instance, if the home is across the street from a high school, how challenging is it to pull out of the driveway at 3 pm when school is getting out? Or if you're shopping in an urban neighborhood, what is the street parking lot like in the evening when everyone is home from work? Maybe the industrial building on the other side of the backyard is silent on the Sunday afternoon you stopped by the open house... but how does it sound during business hours on the weekdays?
Investigate How Sound Travels in the Home: Especially if you plan to have a shared housing situation (roommates, renting out an attached ADU unit, etc.) it's important to know how sound transfers. For example, I've toured homes with client's who were looking for to purchase a home and that they could rent out the daylight basement to off-set their mortgage. Whenever we would tour homes together, they would go downstairs and I would walk around upstairs. Together, we were then able to get a feel for how much sound traveled throughout the home. This is an important detail that is often overlooked.
Don't Skip the Basement: While maybe not the most flashy or exciting part of the home, it can be one of the most revealing. Together with your agent, investigate the condition of the basement and look for signs of efflorescence (the white powdery substance on the cement, indicating moisture issues), shoddy repairs, or a failing foundation. Take into consideration the era of the home's construction and what common challenges homes of that era encounter. If the home does not have a basement, I typically will locate the crawlspace access and take a peek to see if there are any obvious signs of moisture or other concerns.
What's Nearby?: You probably have a good idea of the nearby schools, restaurants, and shopping centers, but there are some other hyperlocal considerations to make when viewing a home. Being a block or two from a fire station, police station, or hospital could be a pro (fast response times) but you will have to deal with sirens at all hours of the day (and night). While it may not be a dealbreaker for everyone, it is something to note.
Look for Evidence of Pests: Keep your eyes out for signs of current or historical pest issues. These could be traps, wood shavings, or droppings. Sometimes these pest issues have already been treated and are low-risk, but sometimes they can be ongoing and prove challenging to remedy.
Always be Looking for Signs of Moisture: Leaks, poor-ventilation, and day-to-day activities can result in moisture issues in a home. Look closely in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and upper-floor ceilings. Condensation on the windows, staining or discoloration on the walls, and warping cabinets/floors/baseboards are all signs of potential water damage. We do live in the PNW after all, so these issues are not entirely uncommon (although that does not make them ok!).
The home search can be a very exciting time in the home buying journey, and it tends to be where my clients learn the most. I thoroughly enjoy coaching and educating my clients on home maintenance and construction. When we do find a home they like and are in contract, this time spent learning about homes also typically makes discussions around the inspection go smoother, as we have likely already spent weeks if not months discussing common items that may come up.
If you are curious to learn more about the entire home-buying process, I have developed a complete home-buyer's guide with nearly 20 pages of tips, insight, and practical information. If you think this may be helpful to you, click here to download my guide for free!
Your friend & realtor,
Sofi
