Buyer Resource Center › The Home Search › What to Ignore and What to Worry About on a Home Tour
When you're touring several homes in a day, it's easy to get distracted by the wrong things. Great staging can hide real problems, and an ugly paint job can scare you away from a great house. Here's how to tell the difference between easy cosmetic fixes and the red flags that deserve a closer look.
5 Things You Can Ignore
These are cosmetic and usually inexpensive to change. Don't let them win you over, or scare you off.
Staging and Furniture
You're not buying the furniture. Staging can make rooms feel bigger than they are, so focus on true size, flow, and light.
Paint Colors and Wallpaper
Among the easiest and cheapest things to change. Check the condition of walls, floors, and trim instead.
Flashy Kitchen Finishes
Shiny appliances and counters are nice, but check cabinet quality, storage, and whether the layout actually works.
Light Fixtures and Hardware
Fixtures, faucets, and cabinet pulls are simple weekend updates that can change a room's whole look.
A Messy or Overgrown Yard
Cleanup and new plants are affordable. Pay attention to drainage, grading, and big trees near the house instead.
6 Red Flags Worth Worrying About
Moisture and Mold
Musty smells, water stains on ceilings, bubbling paint, soft spots in floors or walls, visible mold, or heavy condensation on windows can all point to water problems. In our rainy climate, check basements and crawl spaces closely.
Foundation Concerns
Large or widening cracks, sloping floors, doors and windows that stick, or gaps around trim can signal settling or structural issues. Some cracking is normal, but it's worth a professional opinion.
Aging Major Systems
Note the age of the furnace, water heater, plumbing, and electrical panel. Systems near the end of their life can mean a big expense soon after you move in.
Roof Condition
An older roof, missing or curling shingles, sagging areas, heavy moss, or stains in the attic or ceilings can mean a replacement is coming. Roof repairs are one of the most common VA appraisal requirements.
Old Heating Oil Tanks
Many older Portland area homes were once heated with oil, and some still have buried tanks in the yard. A leaking tank can be expensive to clean up.
Older Wiring and Sewer Lines
Homes built decades ago may have outdated wiring, like knob and tube, or older sewer lines that can crack or collect tree roots. Both can be costly to replace and may affect insurance.
The bottom line: Look past the paint and the staging, and pay close attention to water, structure, roofs, and aging systems. Note anything that worries you during the tour, then let a professional inspection confirm the details. I'll help you sort out what's a deal breaker and what's just a project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest red flags on a home tour?
Signs of moisture or mold, foundation problems, an aging roof, and major systems near the end of their life. In older Portland homes, also watch for buried oil tanks, old wiring, and sewer line issues.
What should I ignore when touring a house?
Cosmetic items like staging, furniture, paint colors, wallpaper, light fixtures, and a messy yard. These are usually easy and inexpensive to change.
Should I walk away from a house with a red flag?
Not necessarily. Many issues can be repaired or negotiated. A professional inspection will tell you how serious it is, and your agent can help you decide whether to ask for repairs, a credit, or move on.
What is a sewer scope and do I need one?
A sewer scope uses a camera to inspect the line from your house to the street. In older Portland area homes, it's highly recommended because cracked or root filled lines can be expensive to fix.
How do I know if a house has an old oil tank?
Look for capped pipes near the foundation, ask the seller about past oil heat, and consider an oil tank scan. Older homes in Portland commonly had oil heat at some point.
Will the VA appraisal catch these problems?
Not all of them. The VA appraiser checks value and minimum property requirements, but it isn't a full inspection. A professional home inspection is still the best protection.
Keep Reading
The Home Inspection Process
What an inspector checks, how to get the most from your inspection, and how VA appraisals differ.
Read more ›5 Dos and Don'ts on Property Tours
Tour etiquette that keeps you in good standing with sellers.
Read more ›The Two House Test
A simple way to compare homes side by side and make a confident choice.
Read more ›
Meet Your Veteran Realtor
Troy Doty, Principal Broker
Troy Doty is a Principal Broker with Northwest Realty Source in Portland, with 25 years in real estate and over 1,000 homes sold across the Portland metro and SW Washington. As a Marine Corps veteran, Troy has a true passion for helping Portland veterans and active duty military families buy and sell homes, whether you're PCSing in, transitioning out, buying your first home, investing in a duplex, triplex, or fourplex, or right sizing later in life.
Schedule a Call or Video Meeting ➜ More About Troy ➜ Free Veteran Buyer E-BookPrefer to call or email? 503.997.4169 · troy@nwrealtysource.com
Troy Doty, Principal Broker, Northwest Realty Source. Licensed in Oregon and Washington. ABR®, MRP, and SRES® are credentials of the National Association of REALTORS® and its affiliates. CIAS™ is a designation of U.S. Realty Training. Content adapted in part from ABR® consumer resources. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice.
