What Should I Bring to a Showing?
You've done the research and worked with Your Favorite Real Estate Team to find beautiful homes that interest you. Now it's time to actually tour each home and see how they feel in-person. We are the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks, so we have the expertise to help you get ready for home showings and have a successful experience. Read on to learn some of our best home tour tips!
Most homes have the measurements for bedrooms written on the public listing, but not every room will have exact dimensions listed. While the square footage will be easy to find on the listing, the measurement from a wall to the window won't be. If you have a couch that you can't imagine parting with, it could be important to measure out the space where it would live and make sure it will fit! Being able to visualize your life in the house is a very important part of feeling comfortable with making the decision to buy a home.
Another great reason to bring a tape measure to home tours is if you plan on buying a lakefront lot. The depth of the water in the home's cove could be a make-or-break point. If the dock making contact with the ground in the winter is a sticking point, then it will be important to take your own measurements to have that peace of mind.
You don't have to bring a professional camera, by any means. But make sure you have a way to take pictures as you tour homes. You might think it will be easy to remember everything you saw in each house, but you would be surprised how quickly you forget the little details. Did the 4-bedroom home have the steep driveway, or was that the other house in the deepwater cove? You don't want to be asking yourself these questions while trying to make such a big decision. When you first get to the house, take a picture of the address or at least the front of the home. Then every time you note something that you do or don't like, snap a photo. It will make sorting much easier later on as you try to decide which home is right for you.
Grab something like a nightlight that you know works well and bring it with you on the home tour. Plug it into each outlet as you go to ensure there are no dead outlets in the home. A dead electrical outlet could mean there are serious issues in the electric. While this is definitely not a complete test, it could help you quickly rule out a dangerously wired home.
This is not exactly necessary but it could make a big difference in your decision. These devices are relatively cheap and can be found in a lot of hardware stores. They look a bit like a heat gun, and they sense the temperature of the area where you aim. Point this device down each vent as you walk through the home. All of the vents should be relatively close to one another, give or take a couple degrees. If you notice that they are drastically different, this could mean that the air ducts in the HVAC are not efficient or that they have a leak. If you love everything else about the home, it could be important to get an inspection done on the HVAC before making your final decision.
While this isn't exactly an item you can bring with you, it is a good idea to have this before going on home tours. Once you have picked several homes to tour, you will know the price-point you are interested in and can apply for pre-approval with a mortgage loan company. Pre-approval is a very positive thing in sellers' eyes. With pre-approval, you won't have to wonder whether or not you can afford the home you fall in love with.
For more tips on how to prepare for home showings, contact Your Favorite Real Estate Team! We are the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks, so we have the experience and know-how to help you have the most successful and enjoyable experience possible while looking for your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Tape Measure
Most homes have the measurements for bedrooms written on the public listing, but not every room will have exact dimensions listed. While the square footage will be easy to find on the listing, the measurement from a wall to the window won't be. If you have a couch that you can't imagine parting with, it could be important to measure out the space where it would live and make sure it will fit! Being able to visualize your life in the house is a very important part of feeling comfortable with making the decision to buy a home.
Another great reason to bring a tape measure to home tours is if you plan on buying a lakefront lot. The depth of the water in the home's cove could be a make-or-break point. If the dock making contact with the ground in the winter is a sticking point, then it will be important to take your own measurements to have that peace of mind.
Camera
You don't have to bring a professional camera, by any means. But make sure you have a way to take pictures as you tour homes. You might think it will be easy to remember everything you saw in each house, but you would be surprised how quickly you forget the little details. Did the 4-bedroom home have the steep driveway, or was that the other house in the deepwater cove? You don't want to be asking yourself these questions while trying to make such a big decision. When you first get to the house, take a picture of the address or at least the front of the home. Then every time you note something that you do or don't like, snap a photo. It will make sorting much easier later on as you try to decide which home is right for you.
Small Plug-In Item
Grab something like a nightlight that you know works well and bring it with you on the home tour. Plug it into each outlet as you go to ensure there are no dead outlets in the home. A dead electrical outlet could mean there are serious issues in the electric. While this is definitely not a complete test, it could help you quickly rule out a dangerously wired home.
Temperature Sensor
This is not exactly necessary but it could make a big difference in your decision. These devices are relatively cheap and can be found in a lot of hardware stores. They look a bit like a heat gun, and they sense the temperature of the area where you aim. Point this device down each vent as you walk through the home. All of the vents should be relatively close to one another, give or take a couple degrees. If you notice that they are drastically different, this could mean that the air ducts in the HVAC are not efficient or that they have a leak. If you love everything else about the home, it could be important to get an inspection done on the HVAC before making your final decision.
Loan Pre-Approval
While this isn't exactly an item you can bring with you, it is a good idea to have this before going on home tours. Once you have picked several homes to tour, you will know the price-point you are interested in and can apply for pre-approval with a mortgage loan company. Pre-approval is a very positive thing in sellers' eyes. With pre-approval, you won't have to wonder whether or not you can afford the home you fall in love with.
Real Estate at Lake of the Ozarks
For more tips on how to prepare for home showings, contact Your Favorite Real Estate Team! We are the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks, so we have the experience and know-how to help you have the most successful and enjoyable experience possible while looking for your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks.
CONTACT ED SCHMIDT FOR ALL YOUR LAKE OF THE OZARK REAL ESTATE NEEDS
Ed Schmidt, REALTOR
752 Bagnell Dam Blvd. Suite A
Lake Ozarks, Mo 65049
Phone: 573-240-9052
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