Here are some of the key things to pay attention to during your house tour.
Is the layout good for the way you live? Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Are they big enough?
Get practical. Is there enough storage space? Are there lights and outlets in every room? What kind of flooring is under the rugs/carpet? How wide are the doors and stairways?
Bring along a flashlight, level, tape measure, and a notebook to record your thoughts. A camera is also helpful.
Looking at houses is exciting, but don’t get distracted. It’s easy and inexpensive to change the color of a room, light fixtures, curtains, and rugs; pay attention to things that aren't so easy to change.
Sometimes serious issues can be hard to see, even for people who know what they’re looking for. Make sure that you can see the walls; if there is stuff stacked against them, ask for it to be moved.
Don’t be shy! Get the answers you need about major structural pieces and systems such as:
Be on the lookout for stains on walls or ceilings, under sinks or radiators, and around toilets or the water heater. Check the water pressure of sinks, toilets, and bath/showers. And check for cracks in the foundation or flooring, and flaking paint on walls and ceilings.
You can find out if any renovations or updates to the house — expansion, new bathroom, kitchen remodel — were permitted by the city and done by a licensed contractor.
Finally, think about the neighborhood. Is it busy or calm? How are the other houses maintained? Are there amenities you need like stores, schools, parks or transportation? Are there children in the neighborhood? Is there heavy traffic or a parking issue?
Studying all aspects of a house - not just the way it looks - is so important, because anything negative (and expensive) you can avoid or have fixed prior to purchasing a house will save you a lot of time and money when choosing and moving in to your new home.