House hunting is a lot like dating. You scroll through endless profile pictures, swipe left and right, hoping to find that rare gem. The one that's attractive, dependable, and offers more than it demands. Finding a picturesque waterfront cottage with manicured gardens and endless updates in the heart of a quaint village might seem harder than landing an underwear model for a partner. So, what should you look for during a showing?

While photos and descriptions get you through the front door, they rarely tell the whole story. Like a heavily edited profile picture, a home’s online listing often presents an idealized version of reality. We're tactile creatures, and walking through a house and engaging all five senses offers a far more revealing experience than scrolling through images.

Like a first date, expect a sales Pitch. Sellers and realtors to highlight the positives while downplaying or hiding the negatives outright. Their job is to sell you on the dream; your job is to be an informed buyer and separate reality from fantasy. Your site visit should be a fact-finding mission, not just a tour of glossy surfaces. You’re not only looking for potential—you’re hunting for red flags.

To be a confident buyer, you need to look beyond the surface. Train your eye to notice both the glaring flaws and the subtle inconsistencies. Start by assessing the overall maintenance of the home. Dated doesn’t automatically mean defective, but deferred or neglected maintenance should be a big concern. Some red flags are obvious: foggy windows, curling roof shingles, signs of water in the basement, DIY electrical wiring, leaking plumbing, or outdated kitchens and bathrooms. Other issues are more nuanced. Look out for:

• Recent repairs that seem out of place (new drywall in an otherwise dated room, or fresh paint only on one section of a ceiling).

• Shiny finishes hiding deeper issues (new flooring over bouncy/sagging floor, installs that only fit with excessive caulking, different trim profiles).

Some updates are harmless, while others are attempts to cover something up. “Just ignore the ugly thing hiding behind the curtain”.

Homes constantly evolve through weather, age, and owner modifications, leaving behind subtle clues and sometimes, what you don’t see can be just as telling. You need to trust all your senses:

• Is there a musty or unusual odor?

• Do you feel dampness?

• Are there soft spots or sagging areas in the floor?

• Are there temperature inconsistencies from room to room?

*Do you see unexplained cracks in surfaces?

• Do recent repairs seem out of place or localized?

Don’t be afraid to open cabinets, flush toilets while the faucet is running, check behind overgrown shrubs, move obstructions away from walls, or test windows and doors. You don’t need decades of trade experience to recognize when something feels off. You've lived in a home most of your life and know how things should work.

Anything you notice, odd, broken, or suspicious, should be noted for follow-up during a professional inspection. A licensed inspector is trained to assess what you’ve flagged and uncover what you may have missed. Even then, no inspection is perfect, but the more you catch early, the better prepared you'll be to make a confident offer with smart contingencies.

It’s easy to be swept away by charm, curb appeal, view, or a gourmet kitchen. But being a savvy buyer means looking past the fresh paint and pretty finishes. With open eyes and all your senses on alert, you’ll be better equipped to find a good-looking home, solid, safe, and worth developing a relationship.