When you’re looking for houses for sale, one of the best things you can do is ask your real estate agent to notify you about upcoming open houses. This allows you to tour available homes within your budget, while also presenting the opportunity to pose questions to the sellers. However, you should know what to look for to ensure your time is well-spent.

4 Tips for Touring an Open House

1. Inspect the Neighborhood

Your experience in your new home is mainly going to depend on the neighborhood, so, as you tour houses for sale, pay close attention to the surrounding area. Make a point to check the speed limits and the street lighting, while also checking to see that bus stops, parks, and other nearby public amenities are well maintained. It may also be worthwhile to ask about other children in the area if you have children of your own.

2. Check for Privacy

As you tour a property for sale, be sure to look out of each of the windows. If you can see into a neighbor’s bedroom or bathroom, they will see into your prospective home as well. Additionally, take a walk to the backyard to see what the visibility is like between that yard and the yards of the neighboring houses. If things are a little too close for comfort, you can always consider planting tall hedges strategically throughout the yard.

3. Examine the Home’s Exterior

While you’re outside to look at the backyard, use that opportunity to tour the exterior of the property. You don’t want to buy a home that comes with a long list of hidden repairs, so examining the foundation, eaves, and roof shingles will pay off. If you see damaged eaves, chipping paint, or peeling shingles, this may indicate a need for extensive and costly home repairs.

4. Assess the Home’s Layout

Making sure the houses for sale that you tour have the appropriate bedroom and closet space may be your top priority, but it is not the only step in assessing the layout. Additionally, you will want to pay attention to the arrangement of the rooms. If you have young children, you may want the bedrooms closer together. However, as they get older and reach their teens, you may want to move your children into bedrooms that are further away from your bedroom. Consider how the layout of the home will affect your ability to make these changes.

For over 71 years, Lawrence Realty Inc. has been helping buyers and sellers connect in the Red Wing, MN, community. They will help you figure out a home budget you can afford, guide you through the process of pre-qualifying you for your mortgage, and assist you in searching for houses for sale in your community. To learn more about their services, you can visit their website or call them at (651) 388-4745.