What to Look for When Touring A House

Buying a house is both exciting AND stressful. Most people only buy one or two houses in their lifetime, which means that you want to get it right. For most buyers, this means scheduling a tour of a house so they get to see it in person.

During a private tour of a house, you get a chance to go through each room of the house and see if you can picture yourself living there. It is also an opportunity to look for any potential issues, such as signs of water damage or evidence of pests. Remember: this is a major financial investment, so it makes sense to take your time and really look closely at the house beyond the cosmetic details.

At Eaton Realty, we help buyers throughout West Central Florida find the homes of their dreams. We want our clients to find the perfect house and get a great deal in the process. To learn more about buying a house in Hillsborough County, reach out to talk to a member of our team.

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Open House Versus Private Tours

It’s pretty easy to scroll through dozens or even hundreds of properties online when searching for a house. In fact, you can look at thousands of great Tampa houses for sale right here on our website.

While online search tools are a great place to start, you shouldn’t make any decisions based on photos and videos alone. After all, camera angles, virtual staging, and other tricks can all make a home look better, bigger, brighter, and newer than it actually is. The best way to figure out if a house is right for you is by seeing it in person.

There are 2 options when it comes to checking out a house for sale: open houses and private tours. 

Open Houses

As the name implies, an open house is when a house on the market is opened up to the public. These typically happen on weekends when more people are available to stop by the house. Open houses can be a good way to get a sense of a house. They’re also easy because you can just drop in during the open house window and take a look around. A quick stop at an open house might be enough to let you cross a property off your list - or bump it up on your list of potential properties.

However, open houses can often be crowded and even a bit chaotic, especially in hot property markets. It can be hard to truly get a look at the house when other people are around, especially if the only Realtor there is the seller’s agent. You might even feel a bit pressured during an open house. 

Private Tours

A private tour is also exactly what it sounds like: a tour of the house that is conducted privately instead of being open to the public. It is also referred to as a showing. In many cases, the buyer’s agent will take their clients on the tour, using a lockbox to get access to the house and letting their clients take their time to explore the house without pressure or other people there.

Open houses can be helpful, but they aren’t a substitute for a private tour. Quite simply, you won’t have the time to truly examine the house to the level that you should before making an offer. By taking the time to go through the house, you will get a better idea of whether it will be a good fit and if it is the right choice for you.

What Should You Look For When Touring a House?

You've made the decision to move, looked at homes online, and partnered with a Realtor. Next step—touring prospective homes. Buying a home is a major decision, and while your Realtor will help guide you through the process, being informed can go a long way to boosting your confidence. Read below for issues to be on the lookout for when you are touring homes, and those that you should look past.

The “Bones” of the House 

From unpermitted additions to roof leaks, issues with the structure of the home make the top of our list. Unless you are planning to buy a fixer-upper, repair costs could end up being more than you bargained for. Before you tour, your Realtor should ask the listing agent if there are any major issues with the home. Knowing those issues before you go will allow you to check them out for yourself. 

You can also take a look at the seller’s disclosure. This should list any big issues with the house, such as a prior flood. That being said, when you are walking through the house, pay special attention to the major areas of the house to check for any obvious issues (like missing shingles on the roof).

The Floor Plan

A home’s floor plan is critical when it comes to how you’ll live in it. If the layout doesn’t work for you, then the home might not be a good choice. For example, if you have young kids and the primary suite is on the first floor while the other bedrooms are upstairs, the floor plan simply might not work for your needs as a family.

As you go through the house, pay attention to how the rooms flow into each other. When doing so, think about how you live. If you want to be able to see your kids while you cook dinner, then an open floor plan might be great. If you work from home and need a quiet area, then you might look for a floor plan that isn’t as open so you will be able to set up a home office.

There is no one right answer when it comes to the best floor plan, as it is ultimately a personal choice. When you are touring a house, think about what you like and dislike about your current house. For example, if the entry opens right into the living room without a space for shoes and bags, you might want to look for a house with a closet or other space at the entrance. These factors are incredibly personal and are based on your preferences. 

The Size of the Rooms 

When looking at stats on a real estate listing, the numbers only tell part of the story. After all, a house might have a lot of square footage, but if it isn’t used in a way that works for you, all of that space might go to waste. For example, if there is a large formal dining room but your family prefers to eat in the kitchen, that might not be a great use of space for your needs.

As you walk through the house, think about the size of each room and whether or not it meets your needs. Is the kitchen big enough for the type of cooking and baking you would like to do? Are the bedrooms big enough for your furniture? Remember that while you can use furniture to change up the space a bit, adding or removing walls or making other structural changes can be expensive. 

Storage Space

When touring a house, it’s easy to look at what you can see, like a gorgeous deck or a stunning primary suite. But in many cases, what you don’t see is the key to a house’s livability: storage space. If you’re like most people, you have a fair amount of stuff: extra sheets and towels, pots and pans, clothes, and more. If you buy this house, you will need a place to store it all.

As you walk through the house, make a note of the number of closets in each room and area of the house. You should also note other areas that could potentially be used for storage, like an attic or attached garage. If you have any unique storage needs, such as space for stand-up paddleboards or kayaks, then you’ll want to make sure that you will have a place to put it all.

Any Signs of Damage 

Most home buyers are not licensed home inspectors. That being said, there are probably things that you can notice even with an untrained eye. Look for things like stains on ceilings or walls, which could indicate a water leak. You can also look for signs of pest infestation, like droppings or damage to the wood.

In Florida, you will also want to take note of anything that may indicate that a house has previously flooded due to a hurricane or tropical storm. These signs may include warped floors, peeling paint, bubbling wallpaper, foundation cracks, uneven floors, or spots on the walls that look like mold.

Working Appliances and Fixtures

While you won’t have time to run a full load of laundry during a house tour (nor should you), it’s OK to take a quick minute to see if the appliances and fixtures work during a house tour. For example, you might want to make sure that the burners work on the stove or that the dryer turns on when you start it.

You can also try flushing the toilets, turning the water on and off at the sinks, and trying the garbage disposal. These are all things that your home inspection will pick up if you buy the house, but it’s also good to know before you buy the house if there are any issues, like leaky sinks. It may also be a sign that you shouldn’t trust the sellers if anything isn’t working and it wasn’t disclosed.

Odors

When touring homes, you'll want to make sure you do more than just look around. Pay particular attention to the way the home smells. Too many candles and air fresheners could be masking an underlying issue like mildew, smoke, or pet odors. A home might look pretty, but strong odors could lead you to discover issues that could be hazardous to your health or cost thousands to remediate. 

In particular, musty or mildewy odors could be a sign of water damage. This is a big issue in homes in West Central Florida, given the number of hurricanes and tropical storms that we experience. If something doesn’t smell quite right, it could affect more than just your enjoyment of the house - it may also be related to an extremely expensive problem that you will have to fix.

System Age

Is the HVAC original to the home? When was the last time the kitchen appliances were updated? The older a system is, the higher the chance of it failing while you own it. The good news is that home sellers are often open to purchasing a home warranty to offset any risk that might come from older appliances.

When you are touring the house, take a peek at the appliances. You might be able to visually determine that some feature of the house, like the HVAC, is relatively new or pretty old. Your real estate agent can also reach out to the seller’s agent to ask additional questions if any issues aren’t noted on the seller’s disclosure.

The Exterior of the House 

Curb appeal is important, but it isn’t the only thing that you should be looking for when you’re touring a house. You should also be sure that there aren’t any obvious defects in the home’s exterior, such as cracking stucco, crumbling sidewalks, or damaged gutters. This is also a good time to take a look at the roof. While you won’t get on top of the house, you can still look up and note any obvious signs of damage, like missing shingles.

In Hillsborough County, you will also want to look for or ask about hurricane-rated windows, doors, and more. These types of safety features can become incredibly important during a storm, so you should know whether you will need to invest in updating the home before you place an offer.

Parking 

Unless you are buying a house in an extremely walkable area, you will probably need parking. Many buyers prefer off-street parking, such as a garage, carport, or dedicated parking pad. While on-street parking can be fine, you will need to consider whether you want to spend time looking for somewhere to park or arguing with neighbors over parking.

Think about your parking needs and whether this house has enough parking for the number of vehicles you own. You should also consider whether the house has space for other types of vehicles that you might own, such as an RV. This is an important consideration when deciding on the house you want to buy.

The Neighborhood

Beyond the house, take a look at the neighborhood as a whole. How close is it to amenities that are important to you? Is it walkable? Are the nearby streets busy? Is there any construction nearby?

If you get a chance, you might talk to some neighbors about how they like living there. You could also drive through the neighborhood at a different time of day to get a sense of the noise levels. If you have kids, maybe look around to see if there are any signs of kids at other houses, which could be important when it comes to your children having playmates right down the street.

Lending Limitations

A final note: Before scheduling any house tours, check with your lender to determine if they have any limitations on the type of home you can buy. Some lenders won't approve a mortgage on homes that don't meet certain criteria. Let your Realtor know if you will be using a government-backed loan, like FHA or VA, BEFORE you start looking for homes. They can sort out homes they know won't meet those requirements, saving you time. Know your lender's requirements before you go.

While it's good to be aware of a home's issues from the start, they don't necessarily have to scare you away. Often, sellers are willing to negotiate price, make repairs, or provide credits at closing. The only way to know is to have your Realtor ask. We always recommend that our home buyers hire a licensed home inspector. They are a great way to get extra peace of mind.

What to Ignore

Now that you know what to be on the lookout for, let's talk about some of the things you should look past. When walking through a home, do your best to ignore paint colors or flooring that isn't your style. These are easy fixes. If the home meets all of your other needs, a couple of gallons of paint and a few hours of your time are a small price to pay. The same can be said for landscaping, hardware, and light fixtures. If you can't get past the worn carpet, ask the seller if they are willing to provide a flooring allowance. Remember, everything is negotiable, but be careful not to ask for so much that you could end up losing the home.

Communication is key. Your Realtor should know your dealbreakers before you start looking at homes. They'll be able to talk to the listing agent, make recommendations, and protect your interests from the start. If you're ready to begin your home search, contact one of our Realtors today. 

Buying a Home? Reach out to Eaton Realty.

All of this information may seem a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, our Tampa real estate agents are experts at guiding buyers through the process. This includes offering our insight into the homes you tour and identifying any potential issues you may want to consider before making an offer. While the ultimate decision is up to you, we will offer our advice to help you make an informed decision.

Based in Lithia, Eaton Realty represents buyers, sellers, renters, and landlords throughout Hillsborough County. We provide the highest level of service to our clients, which includes scheduling private tours and helping our clients get the information and answers that they need before making an offer on a house. Learn more by filling out our online contact form or calling us at 813-672-8022 to talk to a real estate team member.