Touring Homes

Found a home that meets all your initial criteria? It’s time for a home tour. Touring a home takes you past the listing data and into the heart and soul of a property. Photos and video are helpful, but the best way to get a real sense of the house is to spend time there.

The typical homebuyer looks at about 10 homes over a dozen weeks, according to the National Association of Realtors. But everyone is different. Some people look at two houses, while others tour two dozen. There’s no right or wrong approach.

Here are 11 tips to keep in mind when the time comes to start touring properties:

Don’t try to cram a dozen home tours into an afternoon. You don’t want to feel rushed, especially when you land on a property you like. You also need to factor in the time it takes to get to each property. A good real estate agent can help you get the most from each tour.

Bring a notebook or print off our handy Home Tour checklist before you go. Record your reactions and questions. But also ask your real estate agent if it’s OK to take pictures inside and outside the home. There’s a lot to see, and odds are you won’t remember everything. Some buyers even like to sketch a simple floor plan before they leave, as it can be helpful when comparing properties later. Bring a tape measure, too. MLS listings will usually feature the dimensions of a home’s rooms, but it never hurts to double check.

Curb appeal is important to a lot of homebuyers. A recent study by the National Association of Realtors found that 49 percent of buying decisions are based on curb appeal. Take time to look past this initial “gut” reaction. Try to determine if you can improve a home’s appearance with a few simple projects, or if a costlier fix would be in order. Maybe you can spruce up the front of the home with simple planting and maintenance. Don’t discount a home with great location or other attractive features based solely on that first impression, especially if you could improve the curb appeal without spending a fortune.

Don’t let bad carpet, ugly wallpaper or outdated appliances and furniture chase you from a house that otherwise has a lot to offer. These aren’t always cheap fixes or replacements, but it’s obviously a lot easier to change carpet or appliances than a home’s location or lot size.

Open cabinets, doors and windows. Check out the closets and look under the rugs. It might feel like you’re being “nosy,” but consider it doing your due diligence. You want to make sure the home meets your needs. You also don’t want any surprises, like a warped or stained floor hiding beneath that gorgeous rug. Bring a golf ball or a marble to check whether floors are level, too.

Some sellers might just take a walk or hang out at the neighbor’s during your home tour. Avoid “oohing and ahhing” about the home’s features (or bad-mouthing them) if there’s a chance the seller might hear. Wait until you’re back in the car with your agent to talk about what you loved and what you didn’t. The last thing you want is to compromise your negotiating position or offend the seller of your dream home.

If you like a home enough to warrant a second showing, try to schedule it for a different time of day from the first. Get a feel for the traffic on a weekday morning and what that could mean for your commute. Are neighbors playing with their children outside or walking their dogs after work? Can you hear road noise or other sounds that maybe weren’t there on your first visit?

Homes are rarely in perfect condition. But some repairs are more costly and time-consuming than others. Don’t underestimate seemingly minor repairs, and keep an eye out for the condition of the following:

• Windows and doors: Do windows and doors open and close easily? Are windows and doors tightly sealed against drafts? Are sills and frames in good condition? Are window screens present and in good condition?
• Garage doors: Do garage doors open and close easily?
• Floors: Is the carpet in good shape? Are hardwood floors in good condition? Is vinyl flooring free from scratches/tears? Are tile floors intact and free of cracks and chips?
• Siding: Is vinyl siding free of mold and cracks? Is wood siding free of flaking paint?
• Walls and ceilings: Are walls and ceilings free from significant holes and cracks? Are there signs of lead paint (flaking) or water damage?
• Roof: What is the age of the roof? Do shingles appear to be in good condition? Are there any signs of a roof leak?
• Decks/porches: Are decks and porches in good condition? Is wood free from rot?
• Basement: Is the basement dry? Are there signs of water damage or leaks? Are there any noticeable cracks in the foundation?
• Insects: Are there visible signs of termites or other destructive insects?

Home sellers are required to disclose information about issues with their property. Rules and regulations about seller disclosures vary based on where you’re buying. But these will typically document known problems with things like:

• Leaky roofs or basements
• Electrical, plumbing or other major system issues
• The presence of termites or other pests
• Rehab work completed by the seller
• Neighborhood nuisances

Sellers aren’t usually required to provide a disclosure until you’re under contract. But in some markets sellers will leave a copy of their disclosure statement for you to peruse during a home tour. If you spot one while touring a home you like, review the disclosure in detail with your agent.

Potential buyers can use this information along with a home inspection to really scrutinize the property and decide whether they want to move forward.

When shopping for a home, also consider a home’s utility costs. The average monthly bill for electricity and natural gas is about $120, according to the WhiteFence Index, which calculates utility bill averages for 20 U.S. cities.

Updating a home's appliances can help slash utility costs. Modern appliances are generally more energy efficient than older ones and may pay for themselves in utility savings. Your real estate agent can obtain previous utility bills for any homes you are considering, which may help you to decide whether it’s necessary to replace old appliances.

Don’t forget to look beyond the kitchen when considering utility costs. Heating water is typically the third-largest energy expense in your home. If the gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50 percent efficiency, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

An aging air conditioning system can also inflate your utility costs. Your real estate agent can ask the seller for the age of the system if it isn’t provided in a seller’s disclosure. The NRDC estimates replacing a system that’s more than 10 years old could reduce your energy consumption for cooling by 20 percent.

One way to finance some of your home’s energy efficiency improvements is through a VA Energy Efficient Mortgage. This specialized financing option provides all the benefits of a VA loan, plus offers an additional allowance to improve a home’s energy efficiency. Buyers who qualify can add up to $6,000 to their loan amount to make certain energy efficiency improvements.

Acceptable improvements can include:

• Installing storm windows/doors
• Replacing a water heater
• Improving heating/cooling systems
• Installing insulation
• Adding weather-stripping or caulk

The exact amount you can obtain through an Energy Efficient Mortgage is based on a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) inspection. The HERS inspection analyzes your home’s current energy use and predicts the value of energy improvements. Lenders use this information to decide how much of an allowance is appropriate.

You've already spent time defining what you want in a home. Think about the handful of genuine must-haves and hold them close. You might see all kinds of cool, new features as you tour more and more homes.

Keeping your true priorities top of mind will help you stay focused on what's most important. It’s also OK if those priorities shift as you look at more homes. Just be honest with yourself about needs versus wants.