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A showing helps you check how a home fits daily life and prepare questions for an independent inspector. Observe only areas you are permitted to enter. Ask permission before operating fixtures or opening ordinary cabinets and windows; do not remove covers, disturb materials, climb roofs or enter confined spaces.
A showing helps you check how a home fits daily life and prepare questions for an independent inspector. Observe only areas you are permitted to enter. Ask permission before operating fixtures or opening ordinary cabinets and windows; do not remove covers, disturb materials, climb roofs or enter confined spaces.
Use the visit to record what you see and what still needs a qualified professional’s evaluation.
You might be wondering
If any of these sound like you, this guide was written for you.
- What should I look for when touring a house?
- What should I check when buying an older home?
- What questions should I ask at an open house?
- How long should a home tour take?
- What are red flags when viewing a house?
01What should I look for in the kitchen when touring a house?
New finishes tell you about appearance, not the condition of concealed systems. Look at the kitchen’s layout, working space and storage against how you would use it.
With permission, look in the cabinet below the sink for visible stains or damage. Ask your inspector to evaluate plumbing and ventilation. If you plan to change appliances or fuel type, have qualified professionals assess the work and electrical requirements.
- Visible staining or warping: record the location and ask about past repairs.
- Available appliance and remodel records: age or matching brands do not establish work quality.
- Ventilation: ask the inspector how the system is configured and whether further evaluation is needed.
02What should I check in the bathroom when viewing a home?
Note visible staining, damaged surfaces or unusual odors and ask the inspector to investigate. These observations do not establish the source or extent of a problem.
Do not push on tile walls, lift finishes or try to expose hidden materials. A difference in renovation style between bathrooms does not tell you why work was done; request available records instead.
- Ask about bathroom ventilation.
- Ask the inspector about reported pressure or drainage concerns.
- Record ceiling stains below an upstairs bathroom without assuming their cause.
03Living areas: light, layout, and the walls themselves
Notice window orientation, the view from the rooms you use most and how the layout would fit your furniture. If light matters to you, revisit at another permitted time; a single showing is only a sample.
Record cracks, uneven floors or doors that do not close properly. A photograph or crack size alone cannot establish whether a condition is cosmetic or structural. Ask the inspector whether further professional evaluation is appropriate.
- Measure usable space rather than relying on staged furniture.
- Notice outlet locations; leave electrical safety and capacity checks to qualified professionals.
- Listen to street noise with windows closed, and open if permitted.
04Bedrooms: measure the reality, not the staging
Compare room dimensions with the furniture you actually plan to use. Ask permission to measure important spaces rather than relying on a photograph or a listing description alone.
With permission, open ordinary closets and compare the storage with your needs. Do not assume storage can be added without checking the layout and any required approvals.
- Ask the inspector or appropriate local official about escape-opening requirements, particularly in converted rooms.
- Ask about heating and cooling in rooms farther from the equipment.
- Notice which bedrooms face roads, garages or adjoining buildings.
05What should I check in the garage and the home's systems?
Note the locations of accessible equipment and ask for available service and installation records. Age can inform maintenance planning, but it does not by itself establish condition, remaining life or replacement timing.
Do not open electrical panels or remove equipment covers. If you want an EV charger, heat pump or other change, ask qualified professionals to assess capacity, installation requirements, utility coordination and any permits.
- Record visible equipment labels only where safely accessible and permitted.
- Note visible moisture marks for the inspector.
- Ask whether converted spaces have permit records.
06What should I look for outside the house?
From permitted, accessible areas, observe the ground around the home, downspouts and visible moisture marks. Ask the inspector to assess drainage concerns; a dry showing does not establish how the property performs during rain.
Look at the roof from the ground and record questions about visible patches or differences. Do not infer the repair history from appearance alone. Ask for available records and a roofer’s evaluation if recommended.
- Ask about drainage where ground appears to slope toward the house.
- Record trees or vegetation that may warrant professional review.
- Do not assume a fence marks the legal property boundary or that a lot can be expanded upon.
What to do in the last two minutes
With permission, photograph observations you want to discuss with the inspector. Do not expose electrical components or enter unsafe areas to get a picture.
Ask the listing agent which disclosures, inspection reports, repair records and permits are available. Read them and arrange your own independent inspection as appropriate.
A showing gathers questions. Follow up on significant unknowns before making the relevant contractual decision.
Related Local Guides
Sources and Credits
- CFPB: Schedule a home inspectionA showing is not an independent inspection.
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