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When you are house hunting, a lot of things run through your head. If you’re a newlywed couple, you might imagine your future kids running around in the backyard. If you’re eyeing retirement, you might be more concerned about having the right home layout for your golden years. But no matter what life stage you’re in, anyone who views a home needs to pay attention to these things while taking the tour. 

Use Your Sniffer 

Obviously, you’re going to look at every room, but don’t forget about your nose! Are candles burning throughout the home, or maybe just in one room? They might be there to disguise an unpleasant smell, such as mold, mildew or cigarette smoke. Make sure to take good, deep whiffs in each room to detect any of these odors.  

Look Up, Look Down, Look All Around 

In each room, you should be looking at what’s below your feet, what’s above your head and what’s surrounding you. The floor should not be sagging or warped in any way. If it is, the reason for the sagging can vary from rotting wood (maybe from flooding) to termites. If you notice a dip in the bathroom floor, this might be a sign of bad plumbing.  

The ceilings (and walls) should be free of water damage signs, namely bubbling. Small cracks in walls are typically okay, but larger ones (or smaller ones with discoloration) may be signs of leaks or structural issues. 

It’s Not Just the Inside That Counts 

Trees surrounding a home can look nice and provide shade, but they can pose several risks. Major risks include a bad storm knocking them down or the trees could possibly catch fire. Smaller concerns would include having clogged gutters and roots getting into the foundation. Weigh the pros and cons of having trees near your home. 

While you’re outside looking at the trees, take a look at the lawn. It’s commonplace to see some yellow and brown spots, but in rare instances these spots may be the result of fungal diseases. Leaving this untreated could welcome various pest infestations. On the other hand, if you notice wet or soggy spots in the yard along with a foul odor, you may be looking at a broken or damaged sewer line.  

You Don’t Have to Be an Electrician 

But you should know what a proper electrical box should look like. There should be no exposed wiring and it will definitely be evident if it looks like some of it is makeshift and corners may have been cut. Also, if it looks like the box hasn’t been replaced in decades, be leery. 

These are not all the things to inspect when you tour a home, but it’s a good start. We know there’s a lot to assess and take in while on a home tour. Remember you can always schedule several tours to make sure you don’t miss anything.