What to Look for During a Home Showing

Touring homes is one of the most exciting parts of the home-buying process. It’s also the part where a nice kitchen island can make otherwise sensible adults forget that a house is a structure and not a mood board. Today I want to share what to actually pay attention to when you’re walking through a home. It’s worth more than how good it looks in the listing photos.

Start outside, before your emotions do. Take a good look at the roof. If you can see it from the street or driveway, look for missing shingles, sagging areas, or signs of age. Roofs are expensive to replace, and “I loved the crown molding” doesn’t do much for you when it’s raining on your dining room table. Also check the gutters, the foundation, and the grading around the home. Ideally, the ground should slope away from the house. Water is patient, and it will find the path of least resistance, which is usually your basement.

Once inside, check the ceilings and walls for water stains. Yellow or brown stains can indicate a past or current leak, even if it looks old and dry, like a mystery nobody bothered to solve. Ask about it anyway. Look at the floors, are they level? Do they bounce or feel soft in certain spots? A floor should have less give than a mattress.

Head to the basement if there is one. Look for signs of moisture, efflorescence (that white chalky residue on concrete walls that looks like a snow globe went off), or any other evidence of water intrusion. Basements are one of the most common problem areas in Michigan homes. We build them optimistically and then negotiate with them for the next thirty years.

Turn on the faucets and flush the toilets. Not the most glamorous part of a showing, but neither is discovering the plumbing situation after closing. Check the water pressure, look under sinks for leaks, and note the age of the water heater and HVAC system. They won’t win the house any style points, but they’re the systems quietly deciding whether your first year of homeownership includes a surprise five-figure expense.

Don’t forget to open the windows and doors. Do they open and close properly? Sticking doors and windows can be a sign of settling or moisture, or just an old house being an old house. Either way, it’s worth a note.

Finally, trust your nose. Musty odors can indicate mold or moisture problems. Pet odors are probably cosmetic. Strong chemical smells, on the other hand, are the house trying to tell you something, and it’s best not to make it repeat itself.

None of this necessarily means you shouldn’t buy the home. Plenty of great houses come with a few quirks. But they’re all worth knowing about, and they’re exactly what your home inspector will look at in detail. Think of your showing as round one, the fun part. The inspection is round two, where the house must answer some questions.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Clare County, whether it’s your first home, a lake place, or one you’ve been putting off for years, I welcome you to schedule an appointment or stop by my office. I’d be glad to walk through the processes. And if you’re a licensed agent looking for a growth minded brokerage with excellent benefits, educational resources, and a competitive split. I’m always looking for good people. Give me a call or stop by and let’s talk.

Daniel Dwyer-Snyder is an Associate Broker/Manager with CENTURY 21 Signature Realty in Clare. He can be reached at 989-321-9927.