How Did We Miss This?

How Did We Miss This?

You went to look at a few houses with the possibility of making an offer to purchase one of them.

One of the houses seemed to meet your needs, so you thought that it would be worthwhile to bring the rest of the family to see it.

When we pulled up to the house with the other members of the family, you were embarrassed. You were thinking that this house looks terrible. How did we miss all of these problems?

But remember how you were in a hurry to get inside. If the inside did not meet your needs, then you did not want to waste time looking at the outside. This house seemed to meet your needs and desires, but then you were anxious to get to the next house so you did not take the time to look at the outside. So, into the car and away we went.

Now excited to show the rest of the gang what you had found, you started to notice the roof which looked like it was ready to blow off, the deteriorating walls, the outdated windows, the overgrown landscaping, the potholed driveway. "Are you sure this is the same house?"

It may sound obvious, but you are buying both the inside and the outside of the house.

By looking at the outside first, you may find that there is no need to go inside of the house.

By looking at the outside first, you may gain glues as to how to look at the inside with a more discerning eye for things such as structural problems, cracks, water problems and so on.

With this thought in mind, you should only schedule enough houses to see at any given time such that you have sufficient time to look at the entire house, inside and outside. You may, also, find that it is best to schedule the appointments during daylight hours. Not only can this allow for you to see the outside, but it will give you a better picture of the inside.