One of the first things you do when you’re looking at purchasing a property is to go on a home tour. While looking at pictures may give you the general idea of what to expect, it’s essential to view homes in-person to identify if they are the right fit for you. You can see a lot on a home tour that you can’t see in pictures, but you need to know exactly what to look for.
By knowing the essential things to look for on a home tour, you can ensure that you won’t have any surprises when you’re moving into your new home.
1. Condition of the grass
When you’re walking up to the property, the first thing that you should look at is the grass. While a few dry patches aren’t a huge cause for concern, the grass’s condition can reveal more than you might think. A surplus of dry and discolored spots may indicate a fungal disease, which will cost you a lot of money and time to fix, plus means you may have an infestation on your hands. Additionally, extremely wet, and squishy grass areas may indicate areas prone to flooding or even broken sewer lines.
However, if you are looking to relocate to another city or country, visiting in person may not be possible. By using a reputable online property search, such as Kenya Property Centre, you can find high-quality listings that reduce the potential of finding problems like this, in your new location.
2. Smells
You can’t see smells in pictures, but they can indicate some big problems in a property. Pay special attention to any odors that you smell when touring a property. Mold and mildew are the main things to look out for, since not only can it be costly to get rid of, but also negatively impact your health. If you smell a damp, musty smell, it could signify that you have this problem.
Additionally, certain smells can stick inside of homes, like pet urine and cigarette smell. These odors are difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of without some significant investments. Notice if there are strong fragrances present when you tour the home because they could indicate that the owners are trying to hide bad smells.
3. Condition of floors and walls
In pictures, the floors and walls could look perfectly fine. The images can be edited to mask the discoloration, and you can’t feel the texture. Defects on the floors and walls, like cracks, warping, and water stains, could indict structural issues that could end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.
If you see cracks running either horizontally or diagonally on the walls, it could be a sign of water damage or problems with the foundation. Water damage can do some severe damage to a property, so it’s one of the most important things to look out for. Signs of water damage will include the walls bubbling out, water stains or walls, ceilings or floors, warped floorboards, and musty smells.
A warped floor can also signal other problems, such as rotting wood, poor construction, or even termites. Pay careful attention to how the floor feels when you step on it, and if you notice any springiness, that shouldn’t be there.
