For many, touring homes can be exciting. Discovering what's out there and figuring out what you like and don't like only makes you more excited for your future of owning a home. That said, it's easy to get carried away with the excitement and let your sense of realistic expectations fall into the background. We tend to fall in love with a home because of aspects that only show a sliver of what the entire home contains, like when we fall in love with carefully articulated and staged photos online. So there's a lot more to discover, and we want to give you the entire layout of what you must look for when touring a home.

Take Notice of Visible Damage

While some houses have signs of damage seen with the naked eye, they may not always be eye-catching. Be sure to look for common things like cracks in ceilings, walls, and floors. These cracks could be a sign of a poor or unstable foundation and should be brought to the attention of a professional if this home becomes a serious contender.

Look out for stains. It doesn't mean the previous owners need to learn to clean up after themselves, but it could indicate severe concerns like water damage, mold, or moisture. Sometimes signs of damage also present themselves in other places, like windows. Try pressing into window seals to check for potential rotting wood.

Define the Details

When walking into the house, it's easy to get excited about the entire house and mind the details and subtle aspects. The good thing is a trained and experienced real estate agent can give advice on this. Take a moment to stand in each room and observe your surroundings. What do you like about the space? What would you change? Do you feel comfortable here? Does it fit your vision of your perfect home? If you're already finding a lot that you would change, first estimate the costs of these changes and then decide if it's worth the expense to you.

The Functionality of the Features

Finding a home to live in is a huge decision and requires a thorough evaluation. Ultimately, this is where you'll be spending most of your time, and if you're going through the financial journey of budgeting, lending, and spending, you want to find a home worth all of it. Try out all the light switches, flush the toilets, test the water pressure and outlets, and do what you need to do to help influence your decision. Finding out if your home is fully functional can save you time, money, and stress.

Pay Attention to the Exterior

After you've made your way through the home's interior, take some time to venture around the exterior as well. Exterior repairs are often costly, so always stay attentive to possible repairs. Inspect the state and quality of the water heater, the HVAC system, the garage and garage door, porches, decks, foundation, fencing, and the works. Often, people stay focused on interior elements, get caught up in a floor plan or how nice the kitchen looks, and pay attention to everything else. Looking at your outdoor features and structures will keep you ahead of the game.

The Environmental Elements

Always keep an eye out for potential threats from Mother Nature. While these natural elements bring beauty to a property, they could also pose a hazard if left untreated. For example, low-hanging or dying trees risk falling onto a home, misconstructed waterways are subject to flooding, and poor landscaping design may cause rainwater pooling.

Insurance may cover some of these problems, but you may need to pay additional home coverage to protect it. If this expense fits within your budget, it may be fine, but protection is always important, as natural hazards may be inevitable. However, if they are too much of a risk on that property, it's best to consider a home in a different location.

Neighbors and Your Neighborhood

Going beyond the home, you're touring, it's wise to pay attention to the neighborhood you're moving into. While we're not necessarily talking about their likeability, please take notice of the state of their home and property. Observe if the house is in good condition, ensuring they treat it well. See if they have any structures that could threaten your property. Take notice of any disturbances that would interrupt your comfort. If you need further input, an agent can provide data, comparisons, neighborhood information, and anything else you may need to know.

Final Thoughts

After finishing your ultimate home tour/inspection:

1. Take the time to review your findings.

2. If you uncover any damages or malfunctions, contact a professional inspector.

3. Determine whether these concerns could evolve over time and whether they're worth the cost. 

However, if fixing these issues would take you over your budget, try negotiating a resolution with the current owners, especially if you love the home. They may be willing to cover some of the costs or take even care of it altogether.

Home buying requires a lot of thought and evaluation, and this is just one of the pieces you need to complete your puzzle. While it may seem overwhelming, investing in all of this consideration right now will make your decision worth it. Let the Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group help guide you through it. Contact us at (210) 331-7000 or send us a message if you're seeking our help. You can also follow us or message us on Instagram and Facebook!