What NOT to Focus on During a Home Tour
What NOT to Focus on During a Home Tour
If you’re walking into homes and zeroing in on paint colors or countertops, you’re setting yourself up for regret later.
A fresh coat of paint can happen in a weekend. New hardware takes an afternoon. But the layout? The flow? The placement of the bedrooms and bathrooms? That’s what you’re actually living with every single day.
Here’s how to tour a home without getting distracted.
Skip the “Lipstick” Stuff
These are easy to change and shouldn’t decide whether you make an offer:
Paint colors
Light fixtures
Cabinet hardware
Countertops
Wall colors or wallpaper
Carpet vs. flooring preference
Older appliances (as long as they’re functional)
If the only thing throwing you off is an ugly kitchen or purple bedroom, don’t walk away. Cosmetic updates are the most fixable part of homeownership.
Focus on What You Can’t Change
These are the deal-makers:
Layout & Flow
Does the floor plan actually work for your lifestyle?
Are the bedrooms where you want them?
Open vs. closed spaces — what doyouneed?
Natural Light
Dark rooms stay dark without major structural changes.
Pay attention at different times of day if possible.
Lot & Location
Yard size, grading, privacy
Street traffic, noise, parking
Proximity to work, schools, and daily life
Major Systems
These matter more than a trendy backsplash:
Roof age
HVAC + ductwork
Plumbing and electrical
Foundation/structural condition
Replacing a countertop is annoying. Replacing a roof is expensive.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
Instead of:
“Do I hate this paint?”
Ask:
“Can I live in this layout long-term?”
“Does this home solve more problems than it creates?”
“Is the structure solid even if the style is outdated?”
Buy the bones — not the lipstick.
Bottom Line
Don’t let cosmetic details push you into a bad decision or out of a good one. If the layout, location, and structure work, the rest can be updated over time.
Schuman Signature Realty — Savannah, GA
Buying smart starts with knowing what to ignore.
