Tips for Viewing a Home: A Starting Guide

Okay, so you’ve made the decision to become a homeowner. Now, you must go through the sometimes painstaking process of selecting homes to see, looking at them with your realtor, and figuring out which would suit you and your family best. It’s fun and exciting, yet stressful. 

There are many homes that look good on paper, others in pictures online, and some in-person. So, here are a few tips that will hopefully make this a little less stressful for you, or at the very least, guide you in the process. 

Tip #1: Stick To Your Budget and Parameters

You don’t want to view anything you actually won’t be able to make work because of financial reasons or simply feasibility. Don’t waste your time or your realtor’s looking at homes that are outside of your radius for work or outside of your budget. You could easily fall in love and then regret making an emotional decision and purchasing the house later. It’s best to stick to your rational, feasible side and only go see what will fit your or your family’s needs. 

Tip #2: Figure Out the Timelines

When was the house put on the market? When is the seller moving? When do you need to move by? Figuring out your timelines will help save you some stress later and ensure that there’s a smooth transition. We suggest not looking at a home more than 60 days out from when you need to move. Sometimes sellers can be lenient and you can get out of rental agreements or pay double for a month, but it’s typically not sustainable for most people beyond that. 

Tip #3: Ask About Zoning

What are the considerations for weather? Are you in a flood zone? A tornado zone? A historical area? Are you zoned for the right schools? Is your home part of a homeowners association? All of these need to be considered. There might be certain regulations and rules imposed on your house if it’s part of a historical area or HOA, limiting things like updates, renovations, and even the color of exterior paint of the home itself. You need to research, ask questions, and get these answers before making an offer. Ensure whatever rules or zones that apply to your home location are within your expectations and you’re capable of owning a home with said considerations. 

Tip #4: Test Everything!

When you go to view the home in person— and especially during a final walk through— you need to test everything. Turn on all of the faucets, check the water pressure, turn on shower heads, run the air conditioner, run the heat, open windows, check the carpets and corners for signs of pests or termites, walls and flooring for cracks or cover-ups— literally, check everything with a fine-tooth comb. Anything that can be jiggled or fiddled with, do it! This may seem silly, but you want to ensure things work. If they don’t, that’s a stipulation to put into your buying agreement or upgrades or repairs the current owners should make before buying. Or, you should at least be compensated, as you’ll have to make those repairs. 

Tip #5: Ask About Age

Knowing how old the big appliances and features can save you an enormous amount of money in the long run. Ask how old the roof is, what it is made out of (if not already listed or mentioned in the description of the home), how old the heater is, the last time the dishwasher was replaced, if all the kitchen appliances will come with the house, as well as the washer and dryer in the laundry— many people take their washer and dryer with them. The cost of replacing some major appliances, especially ones that you can’t live without, right off the bat should be added within your budget or might be a deal-breaker for you with the house. Ask, ask, ask!

Tip #6: Go with Your Realtor and Leave the Kids at Home

You may or may not be new to this; however, you don’t want any distractions during your walk-throughs, open houses, etc. It’s best to arrange for childcare, so you aren’t distracted and forget to ask a question or don’t get to take a close look at something because you’re tending to your kids. Also, your realtor should always come with you. 

In some cases, you may not even physically be there and you must rely on your realtor for giving you accurate information, pictures, and video of the home before you make an offer. Your realtor will also know all of the additional questions you should be asking to get information that may not have been included in the listing or to clarify what was in the listing of the home. Whenever possible– even if it means getting on a plane– go see the house in person first. You’ll feel more comfortable making an offer and you’ll get a much better feel for the home than simply doing a virtual tour. No matter how great technology is, there’s still no substitute for your own two eyes and seeing everything for yourself. 

Tip #7: Take Your Own Pictures!

Sometimes the pictures posted online can be misleading. Our memories are awesome and accurate most of the time, but you might have three or four houses slated for one afternoon. It’s easy to get things mixed up. Use your phones. Take videos and lots of pictures of everything you see, so you can return to those things later when reflecting on your viewings and trying to get your thoughts together. It will be most helpful, especially when deciding between two potential homes towards the end of your decision-making process. You can compare and contrast, and those highlights and pictures will help you create your pros and cons lists to make your final decisions.

This list also just highlights why who you choose to be your realtor is so important. They’ll have loads more tips than just those above to ensure you’re making the best decision for your family, not to mention they’ll be there to guide you when more extensive questions come up later, too. This list certainly isn’t exhaustive, but hopefully gives you a good starting guide for what to prepare yourself for before viewing a home. For more tips, call us at (571) 308-2902 or email us today!