Upon touring a home, you need to concentrate on viewing the outside area just as much as the inside area. There are a lot of different places on the outside that will need attention and you will need to be extra vigilant about looking.
When you first arrive at a home tour, make sure you immediately check the driveway. Look for signs of any types of cracks or raised levels of concrete. This could be a major problem later on because it could mean that the entire driveway will need to be worked on or replaced.
The next place to look is the foundation. Walk all the way around the entire house. Check to see if there is the proper amount of ventilation from the outside. Also look to see if there are any cracks that could be forming in the foundation as well. Cracks can be just as big a problem on the house as they are in the driveway.
The layout of the yard is another important feature to look at. You may want to change some things around when you move in so make sure you that it is something that is easy to manage. A complicated layout can make for a big hassle when it comes to doing your own landscaping.
The roof, while hard to get a really good look at, is another important area that you need to know about. You should always ask about the roofing when you tour a home. Ask how old it is, if the roof has been replaced, how many times, and what materials where used.
As you can see, it's important to check all aspect on the exterior of a home before deciding to place a bid. While the interior is just as important, there are some key factors on the outside of which you need to be aware.
