Home Tour Checklist: What to Prioritise and What to Overlook
When doing a home tour, the bed/bath count, the size of the closets, and the kitchen design are important, but there are other things to consider before you make an offer. Smart buyers know that there are some factors you shouldn’t pay too much attention to and some you most definitely should when touring a home.
Given that buying a home is a huge financial decision, it’s best to have a strategy in place. So, here is a house touring checklist to ease your house hunting.
The location
This one seems obvious, but a lot of homebuyers don’t dig deep enough when inspecting the location during a home tour. You can live with almost any imperfection in a home if you love the neighbourhood and the community. That’s because you can change almost everything else other than the location of your home; this becomes a priority, especially if you are relocating to a different neighbourhood.
When looking for a house, consider your potential home’s proximity to your workplace, the charm of the neighbourhood, ease of access to basic amenities, traffic, and pets. Driving to a property via one route may leave you oblivious to what’s half a block away in another direction, so try to be as thorough as possible. If you can, drive to the area at different times of the day.
The size and the floor plan
Before housing touring, be sure to check if your choice is practical. For example, you might not need four bedrooms and four baths when you live alone. However, if you work from home, a large home can give you the extra space you’ve always wanted for a home office.
Remember that a larger home means you will pay higher amenity bills and higher taxes. It will take more money to fill and decorate the house. Think about how your new house will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now as well as in the future. Remember buying an independent home vs gated communities apartment is really different, considering the spacing.
Scents and odours
Sometimes, you need to rely on your other senses when house touring; your nose can actually help you uncover certain issues a home, and the neighbourhood may have. Fragrances are often used to mask odours, so the excessive use of candles and sprays could be less about setting the mood and more about hiding a smelly problem with the home.
Make sure you take a deep whiff in every room you enter, from bedrooms to basements. Sniff outside, too – it’s hard to fix smells if they come from the neighbourhood.
Water damage
Even if you don’t see standing water on the property, a musty odour can be a sign of water damage. It’s a good idea to take a peek at exposed piping in basements or laundry rooms, and also check for rust, water stains, or leaking.
Water damage that is repaired quickly is usually no big deal, but a leak that went undetected for months could have caused significant damage or brought mould.
The lighting
Are you someone who loves a bright sunny house? Look at the property with light and sunshine in mind. It’s not only about the light coming in from the windows; you also need to check the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures. Will they accommodate your lighting needs? Is there enough lighting in the kitchen or a lovely chandelier in the dining room? If not, you can add them later, but it’s nice to have them in place when you move in.
Things you don’t need to consider
Furniture and decor
Upon entering a home, the decor is one of the first things we notice. More often than not, what you see will vary significantly from your own personal style. Try not to focus too much on that because these temporary elements shouldn’t determine whether or not you decide to make an offer on the property. You can always go out with the old and in with the new later.
Wall and floor treatments
Don’t panic if the walls and the floor don’t look how you want them. The good news is that these things are not permanent. Painting the house interior is actually one of the most accessible and affordable upgrades you can make. The same is with wallpapers and carpets – low-cost projects that can really transform your new home.
Bath and kitchen design
Homebuyers often dream of buying a home already equipped with a gourmet kitchen or master bathroom that feels like a spa experience. So, it can be disappointing if you don’t see that in your new home. But, if you like everything else about a home, are you willing to pass on it simply because the kitchen isn’t stylish enough or the baths lack waterfall shower heads? Think about it before you make a decision.
Final words
Looking for a house in Bangalore for months but haven’t found one yet. Well, you’re in luck because Sterling Developers has a range of luxurious residential options available in the most sought-after areas of Bangalore. Experience the home of your dreams – visit us today!
- August 24, 2023
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