Five Things to Observe on Your initial Visit

Sure, the home photos on Zillow look great, but what should you look at when you first visit that prospective new home in person? Start with these five general areas. 

Conditions - Start by looking at the condition of the home and its separate areas. Pay particular attention to the more common areas that will get the heaviest use, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Do you have a passion for cooking? Be sure that the kitchen either meets your needs, or has room to renovated or expanded.  Create a spreadsheet or use your phone’s Notes app takes notes and pictures to reference after the visit. Note any highlights, or deficiencies of those areas where you will spend most of your time.

Commute routes - Remember, your new home is part of the ecosystem of your (or your family’s) life. Where the home is in relation to schools, parks, your extended family, shopping centers and other necessary services is crucial to your decision. A remote location offering open space for your children to ramble might be a desire for your home, but that 20 minute trip to the nearest grocery store may not be the best for a growing family with toddlers and pre-teens.

Look beyond staging and decorations - Keep in mind, the seller and their agent have met likely staged the home for your visit. Always remember that the beds, dinner table, couches and other decorative items will be gone once you move in, so be sure that those areas meet the needs and (more importantly) design aesthetics of you and your family. Identify the fixtures and features that will remain in your home and decide if you can live with them or if you will need to replace them soon.

Consider home improvements - Is the kitchen tight and in need of extra space? Can the patio eventually be enclosed? If you’re planning on staying a while, it’s best to start thinking about those home improvements now. Keep an eye open for projects you can DIY, and others that will require professional help.

Check the outside - use the same discerning eye on the outside of the home as you did on the inside. Check out the property fence, the condition of the lawn, play areas for your kids, and even potential areas for garden beds and other landscaping. You might even want to arrive a few minutes early and walk the neighborhood if you can. Getting a feel for the outside is just as important as the details inside the home.

It’s easy to be taken in by a beautifully staged home. Be sure to take the above items in to account so that you ca make the most well-informed decision for you and your family. 

Ed Justen -DRE: 02221512  - Affiliated with  Keller Williams. All advice and information given on this blog is sourced from publicly available websites and common knowledge.  Got questions?  Click here to book 30-minute meeting with me.