Touring homes is the fun part, which is exactly why it is easy to get carried away. A freshly painted living room, good lighting and a well-placed bowl of lemons can make a house feel right before you have checked anything that matters. A short checklist keeps you grounded. Use the one below before, during and after each visit.
Before you tour anything
- Know your price ceiling from your own monthly budget, not only from your preapproval. See How Much House Can I Afford? A Budget That Starts With the Monthly Payment.
- Write down three must-haves and a separate list of nice-to-haves. Bedrooms, commute and school district are common must-haves.
- Pick your deal-breakers, such as a busy road, no parking or a long list of HOA rules.
- Agree on how you work with your agent: whom they represent, how they are paid and how quickly they can set up showings.
Outside the house
Start before you walk in. Look at the roof line for sagging, the gutters and downspouts, and where water goes when it rains. Check for cracks in the foundation, soft or rotted wood on trim and decks, and how close trees are to the house. Notice the driveway, the sidewalk and the neighbors’ upkeep. You cannot change the street, so it deserves as much attention as the kitchen.
Room by room
| Where | Look for | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Age of appliances, water stains under the sink, working outlets | What stays with the house? |
| Bathrooms | Water pressure, signs of leaks, ventilation fan, soft spots in the floor | Any past leaks or repairs? |
| Bedrooms | Closet space, window size and condition, room for your furniture | Which rooms get afternoon heat? |
| Basement or crawl space | Dampness, musty smell, stains on walls, cracks | Has water ever come in? |
| Attic | Insulation, signs of roof leaks, ventilation | How old is the roof? |
| Systems | Age of furnace, air conditioner and water heater, electrical panel | Any service records? |
Tip: Take one photo of the front of each house before the first room. Later, when every kitchen starts to blur together, those photos keep your notes in order.
Questions that save money later
- What are the property taxes, and have they changed recently?
- What do utilities usually cost here?
- Is there a homeowners association, and what do the dues cover?
- What is the flood, wildfire or storm risk at this address, and what does insurance cost?
- How long has the home been on the market, and has the price changed?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests looking up the disaster risk of a home you are considering and checking whether insurance is available and how much it costs. It is one of the easiest ways to avoid a payment that is higher than you planned.
The neighborhood at different times
A street that is quiet at two in the afternoon may be a cut-through at rush hour. If a home makes your short list, go back on a weekday evening and on a weekend. Drive the commute at the time you would actually make it. Find the nearest grocery store, pharmacy and park. Listen for train lines, flight paths and nightlife.
Seeing past the staging
Staged homes are designed to look their best, which is fine, but it means you are judging decor rather than the house. Imagine the rooms empty. Measure the spots where your largest pieces of furniture would go. Look at what is under the rugs and behind the furniture where you can. Paint and pillows are cheap; layout, light and structure are not.
Comparing your short list
After each tour, give the home a quick score on your must-haves, note the obvious repairs and write a rough monthly cost including taxes and insurance. When two homes feel equally good, the one with the lower total monthly cost and fewer deferred repairs usually wins over time. Once you are ready, our guide to How to Make an Offer on a House: Price, Earnest Money and Contingencies walks through the next step.
Condos and townhomes: a few extra checks
If you are looking at a condo or a townhome with an association, the building is part of what you are buying. Ask for the association’s budget, how much it holds in reserves and whether any special assessments are planned. Read the rules on pets, rentals, parking and renovations before you fall for the unit. Look at the shared spaces as closely as the unit itself: hallways, roofs, elevators and grounds tell you how well the association maintains what everyone owns together.
What a tour cannot tell you
Even a careful walk-through only shows what is visible. Hidden problems in wiring, plumbing, the roof and the foundation are what a professional home inspection is for, and it is worth scheduling as soon as your offer is accepted. A tour helps you decide whether to make an offer; the inspection helps you decide whether to keep it.