When’s the best time to visit a home? Then, during these visits, how can you best assess if the neighborhood and location are right for you?

Are there certain times, days, or even seasons that are better for viewing homes than others? And if so… when are they?

Buying a home, whether it’s your first or last, is a life-changing decision. You’ll be spending a lot of time there; mornings readying for the day ahead, evenings vegging out with your favorite Netflix show or strolling your neighborhood, weekends sizzling BBQ alongside friends and loved ones on your back patio.

Visiting a house at various times lets you see what it’s like throughout a day. It exposes the pleasant and not-so-pleasant surprises that a house and its location may be hiding (before you sign any dotted lines).

To truly see a house in its many forms it’s a good idea to visit it a few times. In this guide we’re sharing exactly when those best times are and what to pay especially close attention to during each.

How many times should you visit a home?

Melanie Fuller, a top agent and native Alabaman who completes 41% more sales than the average Montgomery/Auburn real estate agent says visiting a home multiple times – and at different times – gives a glimpse into the true essence of a neighborhood.

As far as how many times you should visit a home, Fuller says anywhere from two to four is the sweet spot for many clients. The first time is the initial viewing, while during the second and third visits clients look closer at the details of the house.

“The structure, systems like the HVAC, the not-so-fun factors,” says Fuller with a grin.

Although, from her experience, she says a buyer should visit a house however many times they feel necessary, and that can vary based on preference.

“Probably the max I’ve taken a buyer to a house is three or four times,” says Fuller. “But other buyers see a house once and they just know, they have a gut feeling, this is my house, and they’re hurrying to write up an offer.”

Why visit a home more than once?

Visiting a house multiple times – and at different times – has many benefits. For example, finding out the second or third visit around that a house isn’t what it first appeared.

Fuller recalls a few different scenarios with clients where this happened. In one instance a buyer was really excited after seeing a house, so he chose to do a solo pass by it at night to see if there were any “red flags.” Sure enough, there were. The house was barely visible from the road and it didn’t have a single street lamp near it! For the client, that was a deal breaker.

Another of Fuller’s clients was originally planning on purchasing a house remotely, but after visiting it in person (for the second time in one day), he ended up deciding against it.

“The house was on a busy road,” explains Fuller, “but you didn’t know it unless you went back when school traffic and the 5 o’clock rush hour got out.”

The first time Fuller and her client visited the house the noise wasn’t an issue, but when they came back for an additional visit around 3:30 p.m. and traffic had picked up it was a whole different story. The buyer decided the house wasn’t the one, after all.

What are the best times of day to visit a home?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people commute an average of 24.5 minutes per trip. Experts find a direct relation between long commutes and increased anxiety and stress levels. And who needs more of that?!

To get an idea of what your commute time might be, try a “mock commute” one morning from your residence-to-be. Is it enjoyable? Dreadful? Somewhere in between?

Mid-day

Are you hoping for a neighborhood bustling with vibrance and life? Or maybe you’re closer to retirement and are looking for more silence and solitude? Visiting a neighborhood mid-day, around when local schools let out and commuters are starting to return home, can give you an idea of what the community is like.

Or, say you travel a lot and would prefer a neighborhood that doesn’t become a complete ghost town during working hours? Sometimes, it’s nice to have a trustworthy neighbor or two who’s happy to keep an eye on your place while you’re away.

Visiting a house during the day also allows you to see if there’s enough natural lighting, too much, and how that lighting affects temperatures from room to room. You likely don’t want to be surprised to find your favorite room turns into a hotbox under the afternoon sun.

Evening

How’s the return commute through rush hour looking? Still manageable? Or is it a total drag?

Take a drive around the neighborhood at night, too. Are the streets well-lit? Would you feel comfortable going for an evening stroll? Does the area feel safe? Do you feel safe? Are you living in a quiet residential area … or are you about to land yourself right smack dab in the middle of party central?

If considering a condo, co-op, townhouse, etc., keep in mind that you’re going to be sharing walls with your neighbors. Visiting the building around the evening hours when residents are home can give you an idea of what it might be like living next to them. Are they too rambunctious for your taste? Does the neighbor below love cooking foods with lots and lots of extra garlic, and the scents of their culinary practices waft directly through your vents?

Advice from an expert – what to watch for during visits

With over 20 years of experience in the residential and construction industry, Matt Weckesser, owner and inspector at Roots Property Inspection serving Midland, Michigan, and the surrounding Great Lakes Bay Region, knows a thing or two about sizing up houses inside and out, come rain, shine, or snow.

Weckesser shares top tips and advice on things to look out for during those initial home visits, and how hiring a home inspector is just the critical eye to help.

Weather conditions and season can matter

“Rainy days are actually a little bit better for home inspections for multiple reasons,” says Weckesser, explaining that they can uncover roof leaks, and foundation and grade issues that may not be found otherwise. Seasons can make a difference, too. Weckesser explains that in fall and spring it can be easier to spot foundation issues as opposed to when the ground is drier in the dead of winter and summer.

“Generally, with foundation and grade issues there’s going to be indicators — really, the same with roof leaks,” explains Weckesser. “There are times where they’re just starting to spring up and/or have been covered well. Those conditions can be found during a home inspection, and may have otherwise been missed during a dry season or dry times.”

Visiting a house during various weather conditions and seasons can reveal a few other things, too, like if the yard easily floods or if you can’t make it up the driveway after a heavy snowfall.

Inside of the house

This is where the rose-colored glasses need to come off… at least for a minute.

“Generally, buyers are going in looking at how the house fits their lifestyle and if they like the way it looks,” explains Weckesser. “But they really need to pay attention to the ceiling to find any leaks and to see if there’s any sags or indicators that there could be issues coming from the roof down.”

Weckesser says other large problem areas are often found in the basement and off the corners of door frames and wall openings. It’s important to check these areas closely for cracking that may indicate structural movement.

Outside of the house

On the outside of the house, there are three crucial points to look at, advises Weckesser. First off, roof condition.

“There’s not a single repair worthwhile in a home that has a bad roof,” states Weckesser.

Another critical part is the grade of the house. It should be sloping away to avoid any potential flooding. Also, if there are any gutters and downspouts they should extend away from the house to prevent water damage, foundation issues, and also to avoid problems with flooding.

Other considerations

Noise level

How is the noise pollution in your area? Does a nearby airport rattle the house? Is there a train that barrels by multiple times a day? How about a fire station, police station, or other emergency service provider around the corner, putting you within earshot of sirens?

The market and interest rates

When the market’s high and interest rates are low (sound familiar?), securing multiple visits for a house can be difficult, if not impossible. This can make for some stiff competition and viewing a highly desired house once, let alone many times, can be difficult.

So, try to make the most of your visits when you can squeeze one in. Then, on your own time take a drive by the house at various times of the day to get a better idea of what the neighborhood is like.

Get a critical eye

“In fast-moving markets, sometimes there’s pressure to skip a home inspection or reduce the contingency period for that home inspection,” says Weckesser. But skipping this vital step in the home-buying process can lead to some serious problems down the road.

It’s easy to get excited about a house and only see the good, but home inspectors are experts trained to look deep into the bones of a house with a critical eye. They’re looking for the red flag items.

“It’s always wise to do a home inspection and hire a professional home inspector who’s trained to look for these items,” says Weckesser. “It’s your best chance to find them prior to taking on the home and the responsibility of any repairs.”

When’s the best time to house-hunt?

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) finds the slow season is often during the winter months like November, December, January, and February. During these months there’s usually the lowest number of listings, although, you may be able to snag a house for about 9% to 13% less than in peak season. And another bonus? With fewer prospects sellers are often more open to negotiations.

Peak season is spring — specifically May, June, July, and August — when inventories are generally high and housing prices even higher. The NAR found that these four months alone are responsible for 40% of annual sales volume. If buying a house during these months, be sure to go in mentally prepared because you’ll likely face some serious competition.

How can you secure the best time to visit a home?

Analyzing buying and selling trends aside, working with a knowledgeable real estate agent in your area can be a great way to gain expert insight into neighborhoods, local markets, and insider house-hunting secrets.

When looking at multiple houses, Fuller suggests buyers consider each house and look to their agent for guidance on best viewing times.

“The agent is going to know based on where the house is located, what I call its ‘sticky points’ – or, the issues specific to that neighborhood,” she says.

If Fuller had to peg a “must-see” time for a house, she says the end of the day is always a good time because that’s when people are getting home from work and kiddos are back from school.

“You just get a feel for the community and the neighborhood as a whole,” explains Fuller.

It’s worthwhile to visit a home more than once and at different times to see it in all its many forms. Doing so will reveal the good, the bad, and sometimes … the ugly. But most importantly, you’ll know when you’re ready to buy, the house you chose is the right one for YOU.

No matter the time, day, or season.