Real estate agents notice a lot when they walk into a home, often spotting problems or assets before the buyers even set foot inside. The first impression is usually made well before you step inside, often based on the exterior and the immediate sensory experience. Christa Kenin, a real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman in Connecticut, says exterior wear and tear is the first signal that a home may have lots of deferred maintenance issues and does not bode well for what lies inside the home.
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Once you’ve given the property in question a once-over, look at the rest of the neighborhood. You are not only buying the house, you are also buying the neighbors and the neighborhood, says Anna Solomon of Douglas Elliman. Consider how the neighbors on both sides keep up their own properties if it’s located on a cut-through street.
The Smell Test
Do yourself a favor and open the front door to take a whiff. This will reveal a ton about the home you’re about to enter. A home that smells fresh and clean tells me a lot, says Michelle Easter, a real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman in Boston. It usually means the air is dry, the mechanicals are healthy, and the owner kept up with the boring, expensive maintenance buyers never see. A damp or musty note near the entry does the opposite. Vincent Bouvier, a broker associate at Douglas Elliman, agrees and says that first smell you notice is a home’s most honest scent—one a scented candle can’t mask.
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Structural Signals
If you ask Sam Arneson, a realtor at Sotheby’s in Los Angeles, the most telling feature is hiding right under your nose. I’m always looking at floors, she says. Original floors are incredible to have if they’re in good condition. Arneson has a soft spot for parquet and matchstick patterns, but let’s be honest: anything that’s been expertly finished and has minimal scuffs is covetable. While you’re looking down, Arneson encourages you to notice the transitions from hardwood floors, carpets, and tiles. They often tell me where additions happened, where repairs were made, or where a past denizen tried to hide a repair, she notes.
Ceiling Warnings
On the flip side, Morgan Guthrie at Douglas Elliman says the ceilings can provide an instant wow factor. Higher ceilings, especially vaulted or cathedral ceilings, instantly make a home feel more open and welcoming, she says. They also add architectural character and can change how a space feels, regardless of its actual square footage. The sky is the limit, but it can also clue you in on potential issues. Monica Webster, a licensed real estate associate at Douglas Elliman, says a water stain on the ceiling (or fresh paint attempting to cover one up) can indicate larger moisture issues.
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Red Flags and Details
Every home has a story, and Arneson says period details in excellent condition are a green flag because they’re hard to fake. If 60-year-old beamed ceilings, siding, tile, or built-ins still look strong, it often tells me this dwelling has had thoughtful stewards, she explains. When something’s modernized, it’s not always as easy to determine quality—there may be an unsteady foundation under those gray laminate floors! Joey Bordi, senior designer and project manager at City Real Estate, says the details still matter. “Sloppy
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