What should you do on your first visit?

[Shannon X.]

When going to look at a house for the first time what should one do? take notes, pictures, bring a GC, appraiser, ect...?

Thanks

[Rob K.]

When I first started buying houses, it was a lot more time consuming than it is now. There are a lot of things that I don't like in a house - like built before 1940, flat roofs, heat that is other than gas forced air, additions that aren't done right (most additions are a mess). Before there were pictures on the computer, you would have to drive to the house and then see that it has a flat roof or is next to a methadone clinic. Now, you can look at multiple pictures without leaving your desk.

I like to go look at 10-15 houses, one after the other. If the house is junk, I'm gone in two minutes. If I like it, I will give it a good once over and write down what it needs along with an estimate of how much it will cost to fix.

I might look at 20 houses and only be interested in a couple. If I were you, I would go look at a bunch and if there's one or two that you like, then come back with your dad or a friend who knows a lot about construction and have another look. That way, you're not wasting their time looking at garbage.