As a real estate agent, I’ve been through hundreds and hundreds of houses. I’ve seen just about everything under the sun. I’ve seen some beautiful works of art and I have seen some real dumps. When you’re touring the home for the first time it’s important to have a Realtor who knows what they’re looking at. An experienced real estate agent can help navigate the entire process and help you feel comfortable when it comes time to write an offer.

Here’s an outline of what I do and what I’m looking through when walking through a property:

• I begin with the outside of the house. I’ll take a good look at the roof, gutters, siding, and brick as well as any of the concrete in the driveway that’s there. 

• As soon as I walk into the house and give it a big sniff. Fortunately or unfortunately, you’re never able to tell what the house will smell like through the photos. The smell can be a big indicator of an issue within the house.

• I also like to look at the outlets to ensure that they are at least three prongs. This is a sign that the home likely has updated, grounded electrical outlets. Without the third prong, an outlet isn’t grounded and could pose a risk to your home and anything plugged in. Two prong outlets will most likely need to be updated in the future. 

• I make sure to check the mechanics. The hot water heater, the furnace, the air conditioner, and the electrical panel make a house comfortable and useable. The condition of each of these items can indicate how much money you may need to put into the house over the course of your life there.

• If the basements are unfinished, we can look at the foundation walls for any discrepancies. 

• I always look in each room for any type of staining. That would indicate her of some type of issue going on above. 

As a realtor, I always suggest you hire contractors and a Licensed inspector to inspect your home during the purchase process. It always helps with negotiation, and it gives you an idea of what home improvements and repairs will be needed in the future. I have done these walkthroughs hundreds of times, but I’m not an inspector by any means. I do not have a license or certification for inspecting, just some commonsense knowledge that I enjoy passing on to others for their own sake.

There’s so much to cover with this type of subject. A knowledgeable realtor can save you tons of time and money down the road. If you see a home you like, I’d be happy to walk you through and show you what I know.