My Checklist for Touring Homes

Staging is designed to make you fall in love. That is fine, as long as you are also looking at the things that are expensive to change. Here is what I look at on every tour.

Outside

• Roof condition and age, if the listing says
• How the yard drains and whether soil is built up against the house
• Trees close to the foundation or hanging over the roof
• Cracks in brick or siding
• The AC unit, including its age if the label is visible

Inside

• Cracks above doors and windows
• Doors that stick or will not latch
• Water stains on ceilings
• How the floors feel underfoot
• Water pressure at the kitchen sink and showers
• How warm or cool each room feels

Light and layout

• Which way the home faces and how the light moves through the day
• Where you would put a desk, a dining table, and a couch
• How noise carries between rooms
• Storage, which is easy to forget until you move in

The neighborhood

• Drive by at night and on a weekend
• Try your commute at rush hour
• Find the closest grocery store and coffee shop
• Notice nearby construction or vacant lots that could change

Take notes

After the third house, they start to blur. I keep notes and photos for buyers so we can compare later.

A home can be beautiful and still not be right. The goal is to find the one that works for your life, not just your camera roll. If you want a second set of eyes on your tours, I'd love to help.