Top Tips For Touring A Home

Touring homes is one of the most exciting parts of the home buying experience. This is when you get to imagine yourself living in new places and see different kinds of home designs, features, and décor. In order to have a successful touring process with your agent, it is important to keep a few things in mind so that you can get the most out of the process. 

1. Don’t be afraid to ask your agent questions! A buyer’s agent has typically toured dozens if not hundreds of homes and they will be able to point out things that you might not think about. If you are going to see a home in a neighborhood with a lot of amenities, for example, your agent will be able to advise you about what the cost of those amenities will be through your HOA dues. This is something that some home buyers may not think about and is an important consideration if amenities like neighborhood parks and pools are a big part of your decision. Your agent will also be able to advise you on things such as the ages of elements of the home like the HVAC, roof, and water heater. These things can be big expenses that aren’t taken into consideration. 

2. Be mindful of what you say and do in the home. Many homes in today’s age have security cameras, video doorbells, and other home security features that may be used to monitor buyer’s behavior. It is important to watch what you say about a home in order to avoid offending the seller. 

3. Bring your imagination. Everyone has different tastes so it is important to separate how the seller currently has the home configured from how you would use it. If a seller has a lot of large furniture taking up space in the living room it doesn’t necessarily mean that the room is small or cramped because you might choose to go with more low profile furniture. If one of the bedrooms is configured as an office that doesn’t mean that you can’t change it into a bedroom if you purchase the home. Imagination is especially important if the home is currently vacant, because when a home is a blank canvas it can sometimes be difficult to picture how you would utilize the space. 

Shopping for homes should be a fun and educational experience, and it is important to have an experienced buyer’s agent at your side to help guide you through the process. If you have been thinking about starting your home buying journey, give our team a call! We have helped hundreds of buyers find their dream home and would love to help.

For more tips about touring homes, take a look at this article from the National Association of Realtors.