House Hunter Marathoners

Wow, 50 houses in six weeks. That's a lot.

Yes it is. We have built up the stamina for this craziness over time. This is how a typical house hunting day goes:

For several days before, I sift through the properties that become available, and the properties that have price changes, and the properties that we wanted to see and still haven't. I make a list - 10 to 25, usually, and send them to my agent.

Our agent makes arrangements for us to see the properties.
We have spent enough time, learned what we like, and built a relationship of trust. For any properties that are vacant and have a manual lockbox, our agent gives us the code.

Some properties are vacant and have an electronic code box, so we need our agent. Ideally, all properties should be on electronic lock boxes; but in the low-end end, they still use the old manual boxes.

And any property that is occupied we definitely go with our agent. Ultimately, he's with us on more than 75% of the properties we see, and last year he only gave us codes when he was stuck in traffic and on his way to meet us.

Of the 10-25 that I send, there are generally some that we don't see. Perhaps there's already a contract, or the listing agent is unresponsive, and maybe we need to give 24 hours notice and we're going before that time. Occasionally when we arrive there is no lockbox, or the lockbox doesn't have a key in it. Sometimes we just run out of daylight.

Usually on Saturday, we start out on our own and go see the properties that we can do without an escort. Then we meet up with our agent and see as much as time permits.

Approaching a property, we case the neighborhood. The curb appeal of the neighbors, the general upkeep, fencing, state of the cars, people outside, pets, kids, toys, bikes, weeds, driveways, sidewalks, power lines... whatever.

Then the house itself. At a glance, the state of the roof, siding, shutters, brick, driveway, rain gutters, windows, flower beds, grass, doors, etc. Does it have a shed or garage? What condition?

Upon entering, we smell, we look around. The lower the price, or the better the neighborhood, the more forgiving we are. We don't look at how it is... we look for what it can be. See the first floor. Note the size and arrangement of the kitchen. Can it be a bigger kitchen if we knock out a wall? Consider probable load bearing qualities. Bedroom sizes, closet sizes. Is there a good place for a piano?

Then go upstairs, if there is one. Same thing. Open doors, sniff, visualize. Then the basement, if we're not completely turned off yet. At any point, we can decide we've seen enough and cut the visit short.

Basements often are the make-or-break point for me. If I like the rest of the house, the potential of the basement to be useful or a mold-hole generally decides for me whether I see a future there. Big windows, unfinished, definished, or well-finished are my favorites. Badly done and still there irks me. Definished is my own classification for a basement that was finished and somebody had the good sense to see it wasn't working and pulled it out. Maybe because of a wetness- or whatever.

We've gotten pretty quick. There have been some where we drive up to it, leave the kids with one parent while the other takes a quick look. If it's worth the time, we signal and then go in. If not, we jump back in the car and continue on.

Some properties get us lingering and discussing the hidden possibilities. Some get us laughing over the absurdity of the asking price. Some bowl us over at the front door with the smell of... you name it. Pets, smoke, filth, mold. Some stink but we still go in looking for the value.

On a given Saturday we usually see 8-12. Sometimes as many as 15. We carry a camera and only take pictures in houses that we think we will make an offer on.

When the price, the neighborhood, and the house itself combine into one perfect balance of possibility, we take photos, a little video, and notes. Then we go to the effort of making an offer. Lately, we find that they already have multiple offers and are simply choosing their favorite... "unless we want to offer something a little more competitive?"

We do not engage in bidding wars.

Most of our list is covered with notes like, "needs a bulldozer," "moldy basement," "bad addition," "$80K less," "behind the thrift store," and "main road."

We know that we don't like bilevels: Kitchen is a floor above the main entrance.
We know that we don't like split levels where you go downstairs to the kitchen.
We know that we like basements.

We will still go see these properties; but we haven't made an offer on a bilevel yet, nor on a house without a basement.