Home Tour Checklist

Touring homes is exciting, exhausting and it can be confusing trying to remember which homes had which features. By the end of the day, you can’t remember if the house with the fabulous kitchen had three bedrooms or four, or any other pertinent details.

That’s why you need a Home Tour Checklist. The list we’ve provided below is a good starting point that you can use to create your own.  It may be surprising to first time home buyers that there are so many considerations, but trust us, this is a simple and short list that covers the primary considerations, not all of them.

Remember, while you need to be aware of every detail in a home you are thinking of buying, you need to keep matters in perspective.  While you’re looking at the features you want in a new home, be sure to step back and consider the bigger picture – the permanent attributes – of the house.  There may be a many elements in a house that you consider issues, but don’t let a large number of small problems keep you from a house that would otherwise be a perfect fit.  Remember, you can change superficial elements like wallpaper, paint color and window treatments, and make minor repairs – just make sure they fit into your overall home buying budget.

Take good notes – while viewing the home, not later – and you’ll be better able to make the right decisions as you move forward in the home-buying process. Keep blank copies of lists handy, don’t lose old ones, and be sure to share them with us.

The Home
Square footage	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Number of bedrooms	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Number of baths	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Practicality of floor plan	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Condition of interior walls	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Closet/storage space	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Basement	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Fireplace	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Cable TV	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Basement: dampness/odors	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Exterior appearance/condition	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Lawn/yard space	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Fence	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Patio/deck	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Garage	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Energy efficiency	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Screens/storm windows	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Roof: age, condition	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Gutters/downspouts	____Good	____Average	____Poor
The Neighborhood
Nearby homes/businesses	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Traffic	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Noise level	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Safety/security	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Age mix of inhabitants	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Number of children	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Pet restrictions	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Parking	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Zoning regulations	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Neighborhood restrictions/covenants	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Fire protection	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Police	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Snow removal	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Garbage service	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Schools
Age/condition	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Reputation	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Quality of teachers	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Achievement test scores	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Play areas	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Curriculum	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Class size	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Busing distance	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Convenience to…
Supermarket	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Schools	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Work	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Shopping	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Child care	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Hospitals	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Doctor/dentist	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Recreation/parks	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Church/synagogue	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Airport	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Highways	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Public Transportation	____Good	____Average	____Poor
Other important features:
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor
____________________	____Good	____Average	____Poor