Important Questions to Ask When Touring a Home

While touring a home can be exciting, it’s best to come prepared with questions. Doing so ensures you’ll stay focused on examining the property vs. solely admiring it. It’s essential to keep your wants and needs at the forefront throughout the home-buying process. Just because a property is gorgeous, in an ideal location, and/or fits your budget, doesn’t mean it’s truly the right fit for you. There’s more to consider.

Questions to ask about the home

Whether you’re going to an open house or you’ve scheduled your own tour, be sure to ask the questions below. Some information may be included in the listing remarks, but you can find out so much more by asking or having your local real estate agent ask for you.

How long has the property been on the market?
If it has been sitting for a while, is that due to the time of year or the recent shift in the market? Or, is there another reason? Sometimes homes sit on the market because they are unique properties that don’t necessarily meet the needs of many buyers. Other times, the home may not be properly priced. Or, it may need a significant amount of work.
What is included in the sale?
You’ll want to know in advance if the home currently has any custom appliances or fixtures that won’t be included.
Are there any known repairs or issues?
An inspection will detail these issues, but it’s important to ask any clarifying questions you may have. For example, if roof repairs were recently done, was it because of something minor or major? There’s a big difference between replacing some shingles and doing a major repair due to a leak that involved water damage. Sometimes sellers won’t know of an issue and that’s why it’s important to have an inspection done. Additionally, a lender will require an inspection. The lender may also state certain repairs must be done before moving forward. This applies to major defects that could negatively impact a home’s property value.
When was the house last updated or renovated?
Older homes can either be well-cared for or in need of some TLC. Knowing how old key components of the home are will help you better understand what work may need to be done now or down the road. Then, you can factor that into how much you’re willing to spend on the home now and what is in your budget to invest in the property in the near future. For example, how old is the HVAC, the roof, the garage door, and the appliances that come with the home?
Are there any special maintenance requirements to consider?
Will this home need a certain amount of weekly or monthly upkeep? If this home has a large lawn, a big garden, or other specific features like a pond, are you able to do that work or budget for someone else to do it regularly? If it’s a waterfront home, will you need to worry about waterfront structures like retaining walls, boat lifts, and/or a dock? If the home is in a wooded or rural area, are there pest prevention methods to consider or potential costs related to caring for this property? For instance, a home on acreage may require upkeep of barns or stables, an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), or a private driveway or trail.
Is there a Home Owners Association (HOA)?
If the home has an HOA (Home Owners Association), are there specific requirements regarding landscaping and lawn care? Do you have to get HOA approval to make certain changes like painting the exterior a certain color? How much are the HOA dues and fees and what do they cover?
When is the offer review date?
If you love the home and want to make an offer on it, it’s important to understand the seller’s timeline for reviewing and accepting offers.

Questions to ask about the neighborhood

1. What does it feel like to walk or drive around the neighborhood?
  When seriously looking at homes for sale in a certain area, it’s helpful to walk or drive in that neighborhood. By doing so, you may realize how much you want to live in a quiet community surrounded by nature. Or, you may prefer a bustling suburban or more urban area. Even if it’s in the type of environment you desire, this beautiful home might be very close to a long term construction project or adjacent to an area you’d like to avoid. Walking around a neighborhood can really give you more of an idea of what it would be like to live there, how safe it feels, who your neighbors would be, and if the house and the community fit your lifestyle.
2. What amenities does the neighborhood or surrounding area offer?
  If the home you’d like to buy has a nearby fitness center, clubhouse, park, beach, or trail, check all of that out after touring the property. It’s also important to think about your commute time and businesses you frequently visit. On a map, certain amenities may seem really close. But when you’re actually there, you may realize what seemed walkable or a short drive away may not be. This could be due to traffic at certain times of the day, a lack of sidewalks, or other accessibility issues. Your local buyer’s agent can provide insights. They should be able to give you information about local schools, community features, pros, and cons.
3. What transportation options are available?
  Here on the Kitsap Peninsula, many people commute using the WA State Ferries or the Kitsap Fast Ferry. Kitsap Transit also has routed buses, and there are on-demand services. It’s important to think about what your daily life would look like if you purchase this particular home for sale. How would its location impact you positively or negatively? For instance, if you’re retiring, you may not need to worry about commuting by ferry, but you may want to be able to live in a walkable area. Or, perhaps you want to easily take a bus or ferry to a museum or sports event.

Questions to ask when touring a home virtually

Touring a home virtually isn’t ideal, but if you’re an out-of-state buyer unable to see the home in person, it’s the next best option. Hopefully you have a trusted friend, family member, or a great local real estate agent who can lead the way. Here are some additional questions to ask them while they are walking through it with you on screen.

Is there a floor plan I can reference during the tour?
Having a floor plan to refer to while someone is walking you through the home online can be very helpful. It gives you a better sense of where things are and how everything is situated within the home. This can also give you a clearer sense of the size of different rooms. Many properties today are well staged and are advertised with top-notch photos. This can mean some rooms seem bigger than they actually are.
Can you give me the measurements?
While a video chat is more raw than a professional 3D tour, it can’t replace the in-person experience. So, if you can’t be there, get them to dig into the details for you. Ask about the square footage of specific rooms and/or measurements of particular areas within a room. You may assume a window or counter is about a certain height or length, but you won’t know until you ask them to measure it for you. This is particularly important if you’re assuming certain items in your current home will fit in this new home. You may have a piano or dining room set you don’t want to part with, but will it work in this home? That may not be a deal breaker for you, but it’s helpful to factor this information into your decision making process.
Are there any sights, smells, or sounds that give you pause?
The person walking through the home for you must be your eyes, nose, and ears. If they notice any concerning sights when looking around the home or through the home’s windows, they should say so. Is there a glaring eye sore across the street? Does anything in the home look very worn or damaged? Are there any areas that look different from the photos? Also, it’s important that they describe problematic details like mold, large cracks, or dents. Similarly, you need to know about any weird smells in the home. Ask them to describe what they smell in the entryway, kitchen, basement, bathrooms, etc. To focus on the sounds in and near the home, ask them to open the windows. Have them turn on the faucets, fans, and the garbage disposal. Walking around the exterior of the home, in the yard, and in the neighborhood will also be beneficial.