7 Things Arizona Home Buyers Should Look at Besides the Listing Photos

7 things to look at as a buyer...

Beautiful kitchen.

Perfect pool.

Huge primary bedroom.

And suddenly you're mentally arranging furniture before you've even finished the showing.

I get it.

But when you're buying an Arizona home, some of the most important details aren't necessarily the ones that photograph well.

A home needs to work beyond the Instagram worthy kitchen, so here are seven things worth paying attention to while you're searching.

1. The Direction the Home Faces

Arizona sunshine hits differently.

Pay attention to where the sun falls throughout the day, particularly on outdoor spaces and rooms with large windows.

If spending evenings outside is important to you, notice how the backyard feels during the time of day you'd actually use it.

It's a small detail that can have a surprisingly large impact on everyday life.

2. The HVAC System

Our air conditioning systems work hard.

Ask about the age and condition of the HVAC equipment and review it carefully during your inspection period.

An older unit isn't automatically a reason to walk away from a property, but it's something you'll want to understand before purchasing.

3. The Roof

Arizona doesn't get snowstorms like some parts of the country, but our roofs still deal with intense sun, heat, wind and monsoon weather.

Roof type, age, maintenance history and condition should all be part of your due diligence.

4. The Neighborhood at Different Times

A neighborhood at 11 a.m. on a Wednesday might feel completely different at 6 p.m. Friday.

Drive through more than once if possible.

Listen to traffic.

Look at parking.

Pay attention to nearby businesses, roads and activity.

Try the commute you would normally take.

You're evaluating the home, but you're also evaluating your everyday environment.

5. The HOA

If the property belongs to an HOA, don't treat the monthly fee as the only thing that matters.

Review the available HOA documents, rules and restrictions during your due diligence period and understand what responsibilities come with living in the community.

This becomes especially important if you have specific plans for the property, such as parking certain vehicles, making exterior changes or using the home in a particular way.

6. The Lot

The house gets most of the attention but the lot can dramatically affect how you experience it.

Look at privacy.

Neighboring homes.

Street positioning.

Drainage.

Outdoor usable space.

Pool placement.

Nearby roads.

Future plans you might have for the yard.

Two identical floor plans can feel completely different depending on where they're positioned.

7. Your Future Lifestyle

Finally, ask yourself something that has nothing to do with countertops:

Does this home make sense for the life I'm building?

Maybe you're working remotely now but expect to commute later.

Maybe you're buying a starter home but want enough space to stay longer.

Maybe having a pool sounds amazing until you realize you'd rather spend your weekends traveling.

Or maybe being five minutes from your favorite trail is worth giving up an extra bedroom.

There isn't one universally correct answer.

There is only the answer that works for you.

Look Beyond the Pretty Stuff

Listing photos are designed to get your attention.

Your job and part of my job as your agent is to look beyond them.

We're evaluating the property, location, potential expenses, available information and how everything fits into the bigger picture.

The goal isn't simply to find a house you're excited about during a 30-minute showing.

It's to find somewhere you're still happy you chose after you've actually started living there.

If you're thinking about buying in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley or the surrounding Arizona communities, let's build your search around what actually matters to you.