7 Tips for Attending Home Tours in Denver

You’ve searched every square inch of the Mile High City and finally found a home that might be "the one."

The next step is to schedule a property tour and see it. As much as it might seem like a quick spin through a potential dream house, property tours are crucial opportunities to do your due diligence. 

Exploring the home and imagining it suits your preference is a natural approach. But there are vital things you need to do when attending home tours, such as asking about the property’s history, infrastructure, and vital installations.

Below, our team from Prevu Real Estate has distilled seven tips you can rely on when attending property tours in Denver.

Tips for Attending Home Tours in Denver

• Schedule tours with a click of a button
• Attention to detail
• Look for water damage 
• Ask about the big things
• Don’t hold back on questions
• Ask about the home’s history
• Attend the tour with your agent

Schedule tours with a click of a button

In a fast-moving real estate market, timing is vital. The more simplified the technical aspect of the home-buying process is, the more time and space you have to focus on down payments and mortgages. 

As a modern homebuyer, you can use digital tools to expedite your home search. As you browse listings, keep your eye out for brokerages that offer a more streamlined approach to scheduling tours and connecting with agents. For example, if you can schedule a tour with just one click, you won’t have to worry about sending emails and marking your kitchen calendar. 

Prevu’s homebuying platform allows buyers to schedule a property tour by selecting the time and date that works for them. The platform will then keep you notified as soon as the tour is confirmed and remind you as the date approaches. There is also an option to chat directly with an agent that will accompany you.

These tech-forward tools are designed to keep you focused on the more significant aspects of your home search by making the minor details easier to handle. 

Attention to detail

The property tour is your opportunity to see and inspect every detail of a home. Prioritize this time to observe everything you can so you don’t leave with doubts. 

Pay attention to the exterior as soon as you get to the property. Examine the driveway, the lawn, and the framework of the home. When you’re inside, keep an eye on the flooring, the fixtures, and the windows to help foresee any pending repairs or renovations. 

Don’t feel pressured to have to rush through the tour, either. This is the moment for you, the buyer, to properly inspect a home you might commit to, so take all the time you need. 

Look for water damage

Some repairs or renovations may not be a big deal. Changing electrical sockets or buying a new stove are fixes that don’t require many steps. But serious issues like water damage can cause a massive headache. 

If you must examine one thing painstakingly, it should be water damage. The last thing you want is to rip up flooring, install new pipes, and turn your new home into a construction site. 

Pay close attention to the kitchen and the area under the sink. Check for dampness or mold. Do the same for the bathrooms and basement, if there is one. Ask about the plumbing, when a professional plumber last checked it, and whether updates have been made.

Ask about big ticket items

There are at least three essential items you should ask about: the roof, plumbing, and HVAC systems. 

Replacing any of these can cause a severe dent in your savings. Ask about the roof's age and whether it had any repairs done. This is especially important if you’re considering an older house. 

Plumbing is an essential system for any home. Replacing pipes is expensive and a cumbersome inconvenience to any homeowner, especially if it involves opening walls.

Start by asking about the sewer line and how old it is. If it has some years on it, make a mental note to get a camera inspection of the line if you’re set on buying the house. The same goes for the interior and exterior water lines. 

HVAC systems are another pricey item. The last thing you want is to move into your new home and spend your first winter without heat because the system broke down. Ask about the age of the HVAC installations and whether they’re in working order.

Don’t hold back on questions

It may feel uncomfortable to pepper a listing agent or seller with countless questions, but you are the one potentially buying the home.

Try to get comfortable with the idea that you’re the prospective buyer, and there’s no such thing as too many questions. It only makes sense to know everything you can about one of the most significant purchases people make in their lifetime.

Feel free to make a list beforehand of everything you want to know, from who the owners are to what renovations were made to the home and when.

Ask about the home’s history

Even if the home is in pristine condition, it can never hurt to ask about its history. 

If the basement was flooded five years ago, that’s information you need to know. If the repairs were poorly handled, you might be the one handling the consequences. 

The same goes for any renovations done to the home and its infrastructure. You are in the right to ask about any repairs and alterations done to the home. The purpose is to ensure the work was done properly. This way, you won’t have to worry about calling an electrician because the air conditioning was installed incorrectly. 

Attend the tour with your agent

It isn’t required to have your own agent when scheduling a home tour, but having your own professional by your side can make the experience much easier and more enjoyable.

If your goal during a property tour is to envision where you’ll set up your home bar and reading nook instead of asking about plumbing, working with a buyer’s agent can be invaluable. 

While you picture the furniture layout, your buyer’s agent can ask the hard questions you may feel uncomfortable about. A professional buyer’s agent will take on the duty of checking off every significant detail about the home. 

If there are any issues, your agent can guide you on whether it’s worth going through with the purchase.