What to Look at When Touring a Home as a Homebuyer

There are a few parts of the typical homebuying process that buyers tend to get most excited about, and perhaps the single most common answer here is getting to go on home tours of prospective houses available. While this is an intriguing time that often makes the entire process feel more "real" and may generate significant excitement, it's also one where it's important to pay close attention to elements that will impact your search. 

At Primary Residential Mortgage, we're happy to assist clients with any mortgage program they might require for any home they're looking into, whether you're a first-time homebuyer looking at FHA loans or a more established buyer who needs a jumbo loan for a larger property. We'll also provide tips and expertise on many of the important parts of your home search, including home tours and how to navigate them. Here are some important areas to be considering as you do this.

Home and Appliance Ages

The theme of age is going to come up in a few different ways here, but it's worth starting with the overall ages of the home and appliances. A home that's been well-maintained can last for decades, but that doesn't mean that every part of it will stay in working order without replacement over time. It's important to ask about when various appliances were last replaced, as well as any significant home features like the roof, windows, and HVAC system.

It's also good to look into when the most recent major renovation or expansion of the home took place. This can give you an idea of how much work might need to be done in the near future, as well as provide some context for any particularly old or new features within the house.

This area becomes especially important if you happen to visually spot issues in certain areas, as it can give you a sense of whether those are just cosmetic problems or indicative of deeper issues that will need to be addressed. For example, if you see chipped paint in several places and the seller tells you that the home was painted just a few years ago, that's not likely to be a big deal. But if they say it was last painted 30 years ago, that might be something to look further into.

Layout and Flow

The next thing to consider during your home tour is the way that the layout of the home and its individual rooms flows. This can be a difficult thing to get a feel for if you're not familiar with design, but it's still something that's worth paying attention to.

A good way to think about this is in terms of how easy it would be to move around the home and use it on a daily basis. Are there any areas where traffic might get bottlenecked? Is the kitchen easy to use and well-connected to other parts of the house?

You should also think about how rooms might be used and whether they fit with your needs. For example, if you have young children, does the home have a good layout for keeping an eye on them while still being able to do other things? Is there a space that could easily be converted into a home office?

Structural and Exterior Areas

Another key area to inspect during a home tour is the exterior and any structural elements of the house. Once again, this is an area where the age of the home can come into play, as some issues might not be immediately apparent but could become problems down the road.

Some good examples include:

• Ceilings, walls and baseboards: As you're moving through the house, take a look at the ceilings, walls and baseboards. Are there any cracks or other signs of damage? Are the baseboards loose in any places?
• Gutters and downspouts: Check to see if the gutters are securely attached and free of debris. Make sure that the downspouts are properly directing water away from the house.
• Doors and windows: Inspect all of the doors and windows to make sure that they're in good condition and open and close properly.
• Roof: Take a look at the roof to see if there are any missing or damaged shingles.
• Attic: Down related lines, if the home has an attic, go up there and check for any signs of leaks or other damage -- if the seller allows this (some may not).

Utilities and Fixtures

Next up, it's important to take a look at the different utilities and fixtures in the home to get an idea of their condition and how up-to-date they are. Once again, this is an area where the age of the home can play a role, as some things may need to be updated or replaced sooner than others.

Some key examples include:

• Water heater: Check the water heater to see how old it is and whether it's gas or electric.
• Electrical system: Inspect the electrical panel to see if there are any signs of damage or outdated wiring.
• Appliances: Take a look at all of the appliances in the home -- both major ones like the oven and refrigerator, as well as any smaller ones like the microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. Find out how old they are and whether they're included in the sale of the home.
• Heating and cooling system: Check the furnace and air conditioner to see how old they are and whether they appear to be in good working order.
• Plumbing: Inspect all of the plumbing in the home, including the pipes and fixtures, to look for any signs of leaks or damage.

When it comes time to go on home tours, keep all of these factors in mind as you're walking through each house. By doing so, you'll be better able to narrow down your options and find the ideal home for you. For more on this, or to learn about any of our mortgage rates or how we'll assist you throughout the homebuying process, speak to our team at Primary Residential Mortgage today.