10 Things Buyers Don’t Notice Until After They Move In

When touring a home, it’s natural to focus on the big things. Buyers notice the kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom sizes, backyard and overall condition. But some of the most important things home buyers overlook have less to do with how a house looks and more to do with how it will feel to live there every day.

A home showing only gives you a short amount of time to take everything in. Before making an offer, it can be helpful to slow down and look beyond the obvious features. Here are 10 things that buyers sometimes don’t fully appreciate until after they move in.

1. The Neighborhood at Different Times of Day

A quiet street on a Saturday morning may feel completely different during the Monday morning commute. Nearby schools, businesses and commuter routes can all change traffic patterns throughout the day.

If you’re seriously considering a home, drive through the neighborhood a few different times. Morning and evening rush hour are helpful, but you may also want to visit after dark or around school dismissal.

You aren’t just buying the house. You’re also buying the location and everything that comes with it.

2. How Sunlight Moves Through the Property

Buyers often notice that a home is bright, but they don’t always consider how that light changes during the day.

A family room filled with morning sunlight may be much darker in the afternoon. The same is true outside. A backyard that looks perfect for a pool, garden or patio may receive more or less sunlight than you expect.

The direction a home faces can affect:

• Natural light inside the home
• Gardens and landscaping
• Pools
• Patios and decks
• Solar panels
• Outdoor living areas

If natural light is important to you, pay attention to the time of your showing and where the sun is located.

3. How Much Storage You Actually Need

Storage is one of those features that’s easy to take for granted until you don’t have enough of it.

A home can have plenty of square footage but very little practical storage. Take a look at the coat closets, bedroom closets, pantry, basement, attic and garage.

Think about where you’ll store everyday items as well as things you only use occasionally.

That includes:

• Coats and shoes
• Cleaning supplies
• Holiday decorations
• Luggage
• Sports equipment
• Outdoor furniture
• Seasonal clothing

Storage may not be the feature that makes you fall in love with a home, but you’ll appreciate having it after you move in.

4. Whether Your Furniture Works With the Rooms

An empty room can look surprisingly large. It can also hide an awkward layout.

Look at where the doors, windows and fireplaces are located. Then think about where your furniture would actually go.

A large family room with several doorways, a fireplace and a wall of windows may have fewer furniture options than a smaller rectangular room.

The same applies to bedrooms. A room may technically be large enough for a king-size bed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a practical place to put one.

Try to picture your furniture in the home rather than simply looking at the dimensions.

5. Water Pressure

Water pressure probably isn’t going to determine whether you buy a house, but it’s something you’ll notice every day once you live there.

Turn on a faucet during the showing. If possible, check an upstairs bathroom as well.

The home inspection will give you another opportunity to look more closely at the plumbing system. You can also see what happens when more than one fixture is being used.

It’s a small detail, but that’s exactly why buyers sometimes miss it.

6. Cell Phone Reception

This is another simple one.

Take your phone out and look at the signal.

If you work from home or rely heavily on your phone, check reception in the rooms where you’ll spend the most time. Don’t forget the basement, garage and backyard.

Wi-Fi calling can solve many reception problems, but it’s still better to discover weak cell service during a showing than after moving day.

7. What the Driveway Will Be Like in Winter

This is especially important when buying a home in Massachusetts.

A long or steep driveway may look perfectly manageable in June. Snow and ice can change things considerably.

Pay attention to:

• Driveway slope
• Pavement condition
• Drainage
• Parking
• Turnaround space
• Plowing access
• Where snow can be piled

Also think about your daily routine. A long walk from the driveway to the house may be beautiful most of the year, but less appealing when you’re carrying groceries through the snow.

8. The Sounds Around the Home

Most showings involve a lot of conversation. Take a minute and stop talking.

Listen.

You may hear road traffic, airplanes, trains, nearby businesses, sports fields or neighborhood activity that you didn’t notice when you first arrived.

The season can make a difference too. Trees and landscaping can provide a surprisingly effective barrier during the summer. Once the leaves fall, both the view and the sound can change.

Noise is subjective. What matters is knowing what’s there before you buy.

9. What’s Beyond the Property Line

A nice backyard can grab your attention, but look beyond it.

What’s behind the trees? What’s on the next street? Is there conservation land, another neighborhood, commercial property or undeveloped land nearby?

Also look at the elevation of the surrounding properties. If neighboring land sits considerably higher, think about where water may travel during a heavy rain.

These aren’t necessarily reasons not to buy a property. They’re simply things home buyers overlook when most of their attention is focused on the house itself.

10. How the Home Will Work on an Ordinary Day

This may be the most useful test of all.

Imagine that you’ve lived in the house for six months. It’s no longer exciting and new. It’s simply Tuesday and you’re coming home from work with groceries.

Which door do you use?

Where do coats and shoes and the kids leave their backpacks? Is there outside space for the dog? Trash barrels go where? Packages drop-off and deliveries? Guest Parking?

These details aren’t particularly exciting during a showing, but they have a lot to do with whether a house functions well for you.

A beautiful home is important. A home that makes everyday life easier may be even better.

A Second Showing Can Look Very Different

The first time buyers walk through a property, there’s usually an emotional reaction. You like it or you don’t.

A second showing can have a completely different purpose.

Instead of concentrating on finishes and first impressions, take another look at how the house actually works. Open the closets. Look out the windows. Think about your furniture. Stand in the driveway. Walk around the yard and listen to the neighborhood.

Many of the things home buyers overlook aren’t defects or serious problems. They’re simply details that become much more noticeable once you live in a home every day.

No house is going to be perfect. The goal is to understand the home you’re buying and decide whether its advantages—and its quirks—work for you.

Looking for a Home?

Online listings are a great way to begin a home search. Photos, floor plans and property details can help you decide which homes are worth seeing.

But there’s no substitute for walking through a property and looking beyond the listing photos.

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE:

North Andover Massachusetts 01845 homes for sale.

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Tibbetts Real Estate Group can help you evaluate not only what a home looks like during a showing, but how well it may work once you’re actually living there.