Reading a listing like a local: what to check beyond the view

A great view sells the house. These details decide whether you enjoy living in it.

Listings are written to be loved at first sight. Your job is to look a second time.

Look past the photo

• The driveway in winter. Is it steep, shaded or shared? Who clears it?
• The stairs. Count them, from the car to the kitchen to the bedroom, and picture them in ten years.
• The main floor. Could you live on one level if you ever needed to?
• The upkeep. A big lot and a wide deck are beautiful. They are also weekends.

Ask about the paperwork

If the home is part of a strata or shared property, ask what the fees cover, which repairs are planned and what is in the reserve fund.

Ask your insurer early what coverage costs for this particular property, including any wildfire or flood considerations in the area. It is much easier to learn that before you make an offer than after.

And book a professional inspection. It is the cheapest part of the purchase.

Ask the neighbours

• What is quiet, and what is not?
• Which months are the busiest?
• What would you change about the street?

Fall in love with the view. Then check the floor plan.

Bring someone you trust to the second showing, and ask them to find what you missed.