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I’d take a video while touring it, and then try to get a second tour.
15 min seems too quick for something that important.
Enthusiast
Yeah it’s pretty difficult to get in one tour before offers are due. Sometimes if we’re unsure of making an offer we’ll take some time to go back and drive around the neighborhood. You just have to go for it is what I’ve learned. It’s wild out there right now.
That's tough. Maybe someone who has had such a restriction could chime in.
But rest assured that that probably isn't much less than most buyers spend looking.
I would recommend showing up early. Short walk around the neighborhood. Sit across the street from the house for a few minutes. This way you're not bombarded with quite as many new things to take in when you are actually in the house. And of course you don't want to stress about running late.
Enthusiast
Talk to the neighbors! You’ll be surprised what you might learn.
Second this. I talked to 2 before moving in.
Pro
In the middle of buying our first home right now!! Our realtor told us that if we like something enough, whether by walking through it or through asking our realtor to walk through and video it, to basically put an offer in. In this market in my city, things are being picked off the market in a day. If you’re interested, ask for the disclosure statements and craft the offer. Make sure you have a solid due diligence period where you can back out for any reason (not limited to a bad inspection. With due diligence you can back out for p much any reason). It’s much easier to know during the 10ish days of due diligence if no one is living there because you can get back in easily without scheduling.
In order to feel better about making an offer, I’d tour the neighborhood too. Go at night, in the morning. Google maps to check traffic. Your realtor should tell you honestly if the house is good to make an offer on (just take a good video where you show ceilings, outside foundation, etc. if the realtor can’t make it, but honestly this stuff will be found in the inspection). Your only job should be “does this feel right” and “is the amount of cosmetic + work this thing needs within our budget” which you can figure out after. We toured so many houses this year and you’ll know right away if you hate the vibe!
Pro
Also was given the advice that realistically no house will be perfect. We were told if it’s 1. In the location you love (our most important factor) and 2. Like 60% perfect (some things you can live with, some aesthetic things to fix over the years) then we should go for it. It’s a lot easier to be happy about a home when you know it won’t be perfect when you go in!
We bought a house a year ago, first time home buyers too, and foreigners on top of that. We spent 20 minutes on it and decided that we liked. It is really weird that you spend so little on a house that you are going to live for a long time.
But you can always have a thorough inspection. We hired a private inspector on the top of the inspection made by the realtor. It went pretty smooth.
Pro
Check the basement for signs of water, look at the electrical panel to see if it is upgraded, look for water stains on ceiling and around windows, ask how old the roof is, ask if the electric wiring is modern and if the pipes are copper. Ask how old the furnace is. These are the basics. Take a video like everyone suggested.
Don’t be afraid to pass on it. This market is terrifying so you feel pressured to make a decision right away and you do need to act fast but when it’s the right house, you’ll know. Idk if this is the first or the 100th you’ve looked at but just don’t panic because there 7 other offers or whatever else. But if it is the house, ask your realtor about an escalation clause, got us our house in the fall 🙂
Don't waste time on the aesthetics (paint color, replaceable fixtures) and focus more on the structure and such. Test the water pressure, look for crappy finishes around door and window frames, check for leaks and accumulated water spots in and around the house. If possible, check if HVAC seems to be working properly and that windows are double paned and not need replacing (that can get pricy). Check for noise coming in the house with closed and open windows/doors. Look around for cracks on walls and concrete. If possible, take a look at the roof when you drive away.
Once you're done, drive around the house for a bit and check out the neighborhood for house upkeep and vehicle models/upkeep.
Your tour just gives you a general feeling. Whether It's in a nice neighborhood. Whether appliances look new. Whether decor and sun exposure is good for you etc. All the other items, such as Whether the association is accountable and reliable, Whether plumbing and electrics are good all will be evaluated by your lawyer as well as the house inspector
Ive been in the same situation. We liked the house enough to recommend a second tour the next day.
Thank goodness we did, since this time we paid more attention to detail and saw slight water damage all around the top floor ceiling.... Thus meaning wed need to fix up the ceiling/attic plus change out the roof. Also saw other small things popup like a ton of light switches that didnt work (we even plugged things into some of the sockets to check) which meant wed either need to invest in an electrician to investigate or (/then probably as a result) need to invest in updating all the wiring....
*request not recommend
Rising Star
Be ready to act fast. Video tape the entire walkthrough and watch it 10 times when you get home. Try to capture and pay attention to details. Visit it again the next day and get an offer ready if you are prepared to buy. Inspection comes after they accept your offer and if it turns out bad, walk away. Good luck!
Write a list of things that are important to view when going in (will be different for turn key vs remodel) after looking at the photos or virtual tour. Make sure you view those things. Check for flow of the home, measure key rooms, check closet space, etc. I’d recommend splitting up for one walk through and then going together (sometimes you can burn time discussing things that can be discussed post showing). Agree with filming it and driving the neighborhood at day and night.
Enthusiast
Im currently also looking for my first home in LA. I haven’t seen any time restrictions but tbh I rarely need more than 15 min to tour a house to decide yes or no. During the offer process they will send disclosures so you’ll be able to read those at home and go over them at length. You also will have an inspection contingency so if anything major is wrong with the house it will likely come up there and you can back out. I never take video and honestly you’ll know within the first 15 seconds if you love it or not.
Pay attention to the # of light switches, power outlets, and lights in spaces that are not rooms. You can't add them afterwards or it'll be a hassle. I remembered to check them during my tour but only in the bedrooms. After moving in, I discovered that my house, which is over 100 in years old, didn't have light above the stairs leading from 1st floor to 2nd floor. The porch doesn't have lights either. Super annoying.
Turn on both the hot and cold sides to test water pressure. I remembered to do it but only on one side. Turned out the hot sides are all blocky due to hard water. Fail.
Check location of the internet modem. Mine is in the basement so they had to drill a hole through the floor to loop the cable into the living room for the router. Annoyed.
Bring a ball of some kind and check if the floors are even. Again, my house is old so things warped over time, including the floor. Guess who has a wobbly dining table? This one.
Not related to touring but you can get an idea of your neighbors' political affiliation by googling the address of your prospective house and shifting through public databases, if that sort of thing is important to you.
Ceiling height is one of the most important things, the higher the better. You can’t change that.