7 Rules When Shopping For a Home

We all want to be courteous and follow the rules when looking for that perfect home, but sometimes we don't know what's the right and wrong thing to do.  The first thing that people often fumble on is taking off their shoes.  Remember, when you enter a home that's for sale, you are just one of many people that will be touring that home.  That's a lot of foot traffic and to keep that home looking great, take those lovely shoes off!  Here's the exception - if you look around and the carpet has more stains than a frat house, then this rule doesn't apply.  Leave your shoes on and protect your socks!

To open or not to open, that is the question.  Buyers frequently ask me if they can open that closet door, or if they can look into the pantry or kitchen cabinets.  The answer is yes!  As a buyer, it's important to understand the house that you want to buy and that means all the little spaces too.

When deciding to walk into the backyard, look first to see if the grass has any landmines you need to avoid.  Just because you don't have a dog and have a spotless yard, doesn't mean the sellers are in the same situation.  The last thing you want to do is step in doggie doo or even worse, track it back inside the house!

Be careful of what you say.  I often hear clients talking about what they want to pay for a house or other sensitive information in places that might be overheard by a neighbor or even the seller themselves.  It's best to hold off on sensitive conversations until back in the car or at the Realtor's office. 

Leave no trace behind.  You know the old saying when you're in the woods, that you should pack out what you pack in? It's similar for home shopping.  When you enter a seller's home, you don't want to leave any of your personal belongings or trash.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen people almost leave their cell phone behind!

Here's the question that people are usually embarrassed to ask.  Can I use the restroom?  The answer is yes!  No one expects you to hold it all day while you tour home after home.  However, check to make sure it works first.  There's nothing worse than using the restroom, only to find out that the water has been turned off or the plumbing is broken.

Last, but not least, be careful where you walk inside and out of a home.  If that deck doesn't look like the most stable piece of craftsmanship ever, then be careful walking out on to it.  It's not your home, so you don't know where the tricky spots are; you want to watch out for the rickety handrail or the steps to the basement that look like they might not hold the weight of a fly. 

Shopping for a home can be endlessly entertaining.  Knowing how to avoid the basic mishaps will keep you having fun and protect the seller's home at the same time!