What to Look for During a House Tour

What to Look for During a House Tour

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from touring houses lately, it’s this: a pretty kitchen will distract you REAL fast. Like I’ll walk into a house and immediately be like “oh my gosh, look at the countertops,” meanwhile the floor is literally uneven and the HVAC system is fighting for its life. It’s actually concerning how easily cute decor can manipulate me.

But seriously, after looking at more homes recently, I realized there are so many little things people don’t tell you to pay attention to during a house tour. And if you’re anything like me, you can get emotionally attached to a house within approximately 14 seconds, so you HAVE to stay grounded.

First things first; pay attention to how the house feels when you walk in. And no, I don’t mean in some haunted spiritual way. I mean… does it feel taken care of? You can usually tell pretty quickly. I always notice smells immediately too. If a house smells heavily scented, I start wondering what they’re trying to cover up. That sounds dramatic, but honestly, sometimes it’s true. Water damage, pets, mildew… your nose knows things.

And y’all, LOOK. AT. THE. CEILINGS. I’m so serious.

I used to walk through homes completely focused on the aesthetic until I realized ceilings tell you everything. Water stains? Cracks? Weird bubbling paint? Absolutely not. Those little details matter way more than whether the bathroom has trendy mirrors.

Another thing I always check now is natural lighting. A house can look amazing online and then you walk inside and it feels like a cave. I need sunlight. I need windows. I need to feel alive in my own house. I’ll literally stand in the middle of a room for a second and think, “Okay… would I actually enjoy being here every day?” Because that’s the part people forget. You’re not just buying a house. You’re building your everyday life inside of it.

Also open every closet. Open every cabinet. Open EVERYTHING.

At first I felt awkward doing that because I didn’t want to seem nosy, but now I’m like no, this is a major purchase and I will absolutely be investigating every corner of this house. Storage matters more than people think. Especially if you’re someone like me who somehow owns 47 sweatshirts and refuses to get rid of any of them.

And can we talk about the little things nobody notices during tours? Water pressure. Outlets. Parking. Traffic noise. I toured one house that was absolutely gorgeous until I realized you could hear every single car passing outside like they were driving through the living room. Cute kitchen though.

One thing I’ve started paying attention to lately is the neighborhood itself. Not just the house. Because honestly, you’re not only choosing where you live — you’re choosing the environment you wake up in every day. I always try to picture my actual life there. Would I walk here? Would I feel safe at night? Is there a coffee shop nearby because unfortunately that does affect my happiness.

And y’all already know I romanticize everything, so yes, I absolutely imagine tiny fake scenarios during house tours. Like making coffee on slow mornings, sitting on the porch at night, hosting friends, decorating for Christmas. I can’t help it. But at the same time, I’ve learned not to let emotion completely blind me either. A house can be beautiful and still not be right for you.

That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned lately: don’t just look at the staged decor. Look at the bones of the home. The feeling of it. The little details. The practical stuff. Because eventually the excitement fades and real life moves in.

So yeah, tour the house, check the ceilings, test the water pressure… but also pray for me because if the kitchen is cute enough, I might still lose all critical thinking skills immediately. 

All this to say, if you are looking to buy a home this year, let us help you! With Team Shope you’re truly in safe hands; your more than another closing, your experience matters with us. Call us today and let’s see if we would be a match! 717-500-2112 / 717-534-2442