Questions
A HOUSE TOUR
Buyers Should Ask During
Touring houses is exciting, but it is also
easy to get overwhelmed.
Falling in love with a house might
make you want to rush through
the buying process.
You might even feel some pressure
to make an offer when the housing
market is hot.
While it is normal to feel this way,
you also want to make sure that you
know as much as possible about a house.
Asking these questions during virtual
and in-person home tours gives you
the information you need to make
an informed decision.
How Long Has
the House Been
On the Market?
Right now, houses aren’t lasting long
on the current market.
If the house was recently listed,
then you can expect the sellers
to be willing to wait for the right offer.
If it has been sitting on the market for
a while, then the sellers might be more
interested in striking a deal.
Figuring out where they are in their home
selling journey gives you insight into
whether or not negotiating is an option.
When Was the
Roof Replaced?
Roof replacements are one of your
biggest home maintenance expenses.
Roofs typically need to be replaced
every 20 years or so.
If the house is due for a new roof,
then this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker
if you are prepared to cover the cost.
An old roof might also have water leaks
which makes a home inspection even
more important.
What Comes With
the House?
In most cases, you can expect for
the main appliances to stay.
Most sellers leave the range,
dishwasher and refrigerator,
but it is worth making sure.
You also may want to ask about the
age and general condition of the main
appliances that come with the house.
Occasionally, a seller might be interested
in leaving other items that are hard to move
such as an outdoor children’s play set.
Knowing what goes and stays helps you
make a better decision about making
an offer.
Is There an HOA
and What Are
the Guidelines?
HOAs help to keep neighborhoods
looking nice.
You’ll want to make sure that you
can live with the covenants.
For instance, you may want to find out
if you are limited to specific paint
colors if the exterior of the house
needs freshening up.
Learning about the fees, and whether
or not they cover trash, water and other
common expenses, helps you plan for how
the house will fit your budget.
How Does the
House Compare
to the Listing?
You might have fallen in love with
the large master bedroom when you
viewed the house online, but it might
look different in person.
Homes are often staged perfectly
before pictures are taken for listings.
Photography techniques can also
cause rooms to look bigger than they
really are.
Try to look at the house now with
an eye for details.
Look for wall cracks, watermarks and
damaged flooring that you might not
see in a photo.
Is There Anything
Else I Should Know?
This final open-ended question gives your
real estate agent the chance to speak up
about the benefits of the house along with
any concerns.
They might have noticed that a small room
could be perfect for a home office.
Or, they may know that a new amenity
is coming to the neighborhood soon.
Giving your realtor the floor lets them
share their insight about how the house
fits your needs.
When you first step into a house, try to
remember that your mission is to find out
as much as you can about the property.
Write down your list of questions,
and remember to take notes.
You’ll appreciate being able to refer
back to them later as you narrow your
options down to the final perfect home.
Jimmy Vercellino is one of the nation’s top
VA Home Loan mortgage originators.
A Marine veteran, he and his team work
hard to help veterans take advantage
of their VA loan benefit and become
homeowners.
Phoenix Mortgage Lenders
Jimmy V NMLS# 184169
480-800-8387
jimmy.vercellino@goldwaterbank.com
phxhomeloan.com