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<\/a>How many times should you visit a home?<\/h2>\n
Melanie Fuller,<\/a> a top agent and native Alabaman who completes 41% more sales than the average Montgomery<\/a>\/Auburn<\/a> real estate agent, says visiting a home multiple times \u2014 and at different times \u2014 gives buyers a glimpse into the true essence of a neighborhood.<\/p>\n As far as how many times you should visit a home, Fuller says anywhere between two and four is the sweet spot for many of her clients. The first time is the initial viewing, while during the second and third visits, clients more closely inspect the details of the house.<\/p>\n \u201cThe structure, systems like the HVAC<\/a> \u2014 the not-so-fun factors,\u201d says Fuller.<\/p>\n Based on her experience, Fuller says a buyer should visit a house as many times as they<\/em> feel it’s necessary, and that varies based on preference.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably the max I\u2019ve taken a buyer to a house is three or four times,\u201d says Fuller. \u201cBut other buyers see a house once, and they just know \u2014<\/i>\u00a0they have a gut feeling, this is my house \u2014 <\/i>and they\u2019re hurrying to write up an offer.\u201d<\/p>\n Visiting a house multiple times, and at different times, has many benefits. For example, some buyers discover the second or third visit around that a house isn\u2019t what it first appeared to be.<\/p>\n Fuller recalls a few different scenarios with clients where this happened. In one instance, a buyer was really excited after seeing a house, so he chose to cruise past it at night to see if there were any \u201cred flags.\u201d Sure enough, there were: The house was barely visible from the road, and it didn\u2019t have a single street lamp near it. For the client, those were deal-breakers.<\/p>\n Another of Fuller\u2019s clients was originally planning on purchasing a house remotely, but after visiting it in person (for the second time in one day), he ended up deciding against it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe house was on a busy road,\u201d explains Fuller, \u201cbut you didn\u2019t know it unless you went back when school traffic and the 5 o\u2019clock rush hour got out.\u201d<\/p>\n The first time Fuller and her client visited the house, noise wasn\u2019t an issue, but when they came back for an additional visit around 3:30 p.m. and traffic had picked up, the noise level was a whole different story. The buyer decided the house wasn\u2019t the one after all.<\/p>\n \u201cI typically say to visit in the afternoon,\u201d says Fuller. \u201cWhen children are getting home, around 3 o\u2019clock p.m. or 3:30 p.m., and then also in the evenings, when people are arriving home from work.” That way, she says, buyers can see “what the communities are like and what their neighbors will be like.\u201d<\/p>\n Visiting a home at different times can give you a better idea of the neighborhood and whether it suits your lifestyle. For example, families may want to focus on visits when school lets out; this might indicate if there are other kids in the neighborhood. Weekends, especially Saturdays, are another prime visiting time because people are often out and about, working in their yards or hosting visitors.<\/p>\n To know a house inside and out, try to visit it at different times of the day. Morning, mid-day, and evening can all reveal different things.<\/p>\n Here are a few details to consider during each visit.<\/p>\n How busy is your neighborhood in the early hours of the day? Does your street become a shortcut for speedy morning commuters? Are there busy neighboring highways? Is your 25-minute commute about to double?<\/p>\n According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people commute an average of 24.5 minutes<\/a> per work trip. Experts find a direct relation between long commutes and increased anxiety and stress levels.<\/a> And who needs more of that?!<\/p>\n To get an idea of what your commute time might be, try a \u201cmock commute\u201d one morning from your residence-to-be. Is it enjoyable? Dreadful? Somewhere in between?<\/p>\n Are you hoping for a neighborhood bustling with vibrance and life? Or perhaps you’re closer to retirement and are looking for more silence and solitude? Visiting a neighborhood mid-day, around the time local schools let out and commuters are starting to return home, can give you an idea of what the community is like.<\/p>\n Or let’s say you travel a lot and would prefer a neighborhood that doesn\u2019t become a complete ghost town during working hours. Sometimes it\u2019s nice to have a trustworthy neighbor or two who\u2019s happy to keep an eye on your place while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n Visiting a house during the day also allows you to see if there\u2019s enough natural lighting, or too much, and how that lighting affects temperatures from room to room. You don\u2019t want to be surprised to learn that your favorite room turns into a hotbox under the afternoon sun if the blinds are open \u2014 especially if the reason why you love the room is the view!<\/p>\n How\u2019s the return commute through rush hour looking? Still manageable? Or is it a total drag?<\/p>\n Take a drive around the neighborhood at night, too. Are the streets well-lit? Would you feel comfortable going for an evening stroll? Does the area feel safe? Do you<\/i> feel safe? Are you living in a quiet residential area \u2026 or are you about to land yourself right in the middle of party central?<\/p>\n If considering a condo, co-op, townhouse, or another attached property, keep in mind that you\u2019re going to be sharing walls with your neighbors. Visiting the building around the evening hours when residents are home can give you an idea of what it might be like living next to them.<\/p>\n Are they too rambunctious for your taste? Does the neighbor below love cooking foods with copious amounts of garlic (which you can’t stand), and do the scents of their culinary practices waft directly through your vents?<\/p>\n With more than 20 years of experience in the residential and construction industry, Matt Weckesser, owner and inspector at Roots Property Inspection<\/a> serving Midland, Michigan, and the surrounding Great Lakes Bay Region, knows a thing or two about sizing up houses inside and out \u2014 come rain, shine, or snow.<\/p>\n Weckesser shares top tips and advice on things to look out for during those initial home visits and why hiring a home inspector can lend you the critical eye you need.<\/p>\n \u201cRainy days are actually a little bit better for home inspections for multiple reasons,\u201d says Weckesser, explaining that they can uncover roof leaks, plus foundation and grade issues that may not be found otherwise.<\/p>\n Season can make a difference, too. Weckesser explains that in the fall and spring, it can be easier to spot foundation issues; the ground is drier in the dead of winter and summer, and those issues might not show themselves as readily.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally, with foundation and grade issues, there are going to be indicators \u2014 really, the same with roof leaks,\u201d explains Weckesser.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are times where they\u2019re just starting to spring up and\/or have been covered well. Those conditions can be found during a home inspection and may have otherwise been missed during a dry season or dry times.\u201d<\/p>\n Visiting a house during various weather conditions and seasons can reveal a few other things, too, like whether the yard easily floods<\/a>, or how manageable the driveway really is after a heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n This is where the rose-colored glasses need to come off\u2026 at least for a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally, buyers are going in looking at how the house fits their lifestyle and if they like the way it looks,\u201d explains Weckesser. \u201cBut they really need to pay attention to the ceiling to find any leaks and to see if there\u2019s any sags or indicators that there could be issues coming from the roof down.\u201d<\/p>\n Weckesser says other large problem areas are often found in the basement<\/a> and off the corners of door frames and wall openings. It\u2019s important to check these areas closely for cracking that may indicate structural movement.<\/a><\/p>\n On the outside of the house, there are three crucial points to look at, advises Weckesser. First off, roof condition.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not a single repair worthwhile in a home that has a bad roof,\u201d states Weckesser. Bring some binoculars so you can safely inspect the roof from the ground.<\/p>\n Another critical part is the grading around the house.<\/a> It should be sloping away from the structure to avoid any potential flooding.<\/p>\n Also, if there are any gutters and downspouts, they should extend away from the house to prevent water damage<\/a>, foundation issues, and also to avoid any potential problems with flooding.<\/p>\n How is the noise pollution in your area? Does a nearby airport rattle the house? Is there a train that barrels by multiple times a day?<\/p>\n How about a fire station, police station, or other emergency service provider around the corner, putting you within earshot of sirens all day long?<\/p>\n When the real estate market is hot and mortgage interest rates are low (sound familiar?), securing multiple visits for a house can be difficult, if not impossible. This environment can make for some stiff competition among buyers, and viewing a highly desired house once (let alone many times) can be challenging.<\/p>\n So try to make the most of your visits when you can squeeze one in. Then, on your own time, take a drive by the house at various times of the day to get a better idea of what the neighborhood is like.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fast-moving markets, sometimes there\u2019s pressure to skip a home inspection or reduce the contingency period for that home inspection,\u201d says Weckesser. But skipping this vital step in the homebuying process can lead to some serious problems down the road.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to get excited about a house and only see the good, but home inspectors are experts trained to look deep into the bones of a house with a critical eye. They\u2019re looking for the red-flag items.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always wise to do a home inspection and hire a professional home inspector who\u2019s trained to look for these items,\u201d says Weckesser. \u201cIt\u2019s your best chance to find them prior to taking on the home and the responsibility of any repairs.\u201d<\/p>\n The market varies greatly depending on location.<\/p>\n For example, states with milder climates may not experience as extreme of a \u201cslow season\u201d as northern states that are prone to harsh winters. If you’re house-hunting in an area that does<\/em> experience a large market shift, and you\u2019re not in a rush to buy, you can play to the seasons to shop when inventories are commonly high or prices are traditionally low.<\/p>\n The National Association of Realtors (NAR)<\/a> finds that the “slow” season in real estate is often during the winter months of November, December, January, and February. During these months, there are typically fewer homes available for sale, although you may be able to snag a house for about 9% to 13% less<\/a> than in peak season. And another bonus? With fewer prospects, sellers are often more open to negotiations.<\/p>\n Peak season in real estate is spring and summertime \u2014 specifically, May, June, July, and August \u2014 when there are generally high numbers of homes for sale, and housing prices nudge even higher. NAR found that these four months are responsible for 40% of annual sales volume<\/a>. If you’re buying a house during these months, be sure to go in mentally prepared, because you\u2019ll likely face more competition from other buyers.<\/p>\nWhy visit a home more than once?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>What are the best times of day to visit a home?<\/h2>\n
Morning<\/h3>\n
Mid-day<\/h3>\n
Evening<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Advice from an expert \u2014 what to watch for during visits<\/h2>\n
Weather conditions and season<\/h3>\n
Inside the house<\/h3>\n
Outside the house<\/h3>\n
Other considerations<\/h2>\n
Noise level<\/h3>\n
The market and interest rates<\/h3>\n
Get a critical eye<\/h3>\n
<\/a>When\u2019s the best time to house-hunt?<\/h2>\n
How can you secure the best time to visit a home?<\/h2>\n