The best house hunting tips all point the same way: look past how a home feels and check how it works. Before making an offer, homebuyers should check the location, notice smells, test the floors, judge the light, picture their furniture in each room and confirm parking, laundry and storage. The kitchen and bathrooms deserve the closest look of all, since they cost the most to fix.
A showing usually lasts less than an hour, and it is easy to fall for fresh paint or a great backyard in that time. The 10 checks below help homebuyers in Canada slow down, spot red flags early and compare homes on more than first impressions.
Key Takeaways
- House hunting in Canada goes more smoothly with a mortgage pre-approval and a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves in hand before the first showing.
- Location is the one feature a homebuyer cannot change, so commute, schools, amenities and planned development nearby deserve a close look.
- A musty smell, sloped floors and fresh paint on a ceiling are common red flags at a showing that may point to moisture or structural issues.
- Health Canada recommends a radon test of at least three months, so homebuyers can ask sellers whether a home has been tested.
- Kitchens and bathrooms cost the most to repair or update, so homebuyers should check water pressure, cabinets, caulking and ventilation in every showing.
- House hunting tips help buyers spot problems early but do not replace a professional home inspection before buying a home in Canada.
Before You Start House Hunting
House hunting goes more smoothly with two things in place. The first is a mortgage pre-approval, which sets a realistic price range and shows sellers an offer is serious. The second is a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, so a staged living room does not outweigh a missing bedroom. The steps to buying a home in Canada cover both in more detail, and this guide to what makes a good starter home helps first-time homebuyers sort needs from wants.
It also helps to decide early whether a resale home or a new build is the better fit. This comparison of the cost of a new build versus a resale home lays out the trade-offs. Once the plan is set, it is time to start the search and book showings.
1. Check the Location
A kitchen can be renovated. A location cannot. Before falling for a house, look at what surrounds it: the commute to work or school, nearby grocery stores, parks, transit and health care. Families should confirm which school catchment the home falls in, since boundaries do not always follow neighbourhood names.
Visit the street at different times of day. A quiet street on a Sunday afternoon can feel very different at rush hour or on a Friday night. Check the municipality’s website for planned developments, road projects or rezoning nearby, since a vacant lot next door may not stay vacant. Walkability, safety and access to transit rank high for many buyers, as this look at what buyers are prioritizing right now shows.
2. Pay Attention to Smells
The nose is one of the best tools at a showing. A damp or musty smell, especially in a basement, can point to poor ventilation, a past leak or mould. Strong air fresheners, scented candles or plug-ins in every room may simply be a seller’s preference, but they can also cover up odours from pets, smoke or moisture.
Some risks have no smell at all. Radon is an odourless gas that can seep into homes from the ground, and Health Canada notes that no area of the country is radon free. Its radon measurement guide recommends a long-term test of at least three months, so homebuyers usually cannot test before making an offer. Asking the seller whether the home has ever been tested is a simple first step.
3. Check Whether the Floors Are Level
Sloped or bouncy floors can be a sign of settling or structural problems. Walk each room slowly, and watch for doors that swing open on their own, doors that stick and cracks running diagonally from the corners of door frames or windows. A marble or a level app on a phone can confirm what feels off underfoot. This list of warning signs of foundation problems covers what else to look for.
Some settling is normal, especially in older homes, so one uneven spot is not a reason to walk away. It is a reason to ask questions. A buyer’s agent can raise the issue with the listing agent, and it belongs on the list for the home inspector.
4. Look at the Lighting
Natural light changes how a home feels day to day. Note which way the main rooms face. In Canada, south-facing windows tend to get the most sun through the day, while north-facing rooms can feel darker, especially in winter. Check the windows themselves too: condensation or fog between the panes of double-glazed windows can mean the seal has failed.
Showing times can be misleading. A home seen on a winter evening may look darker than it is, and one seen at noon in June may look brighter than it will in January. If the light matters, ask to see the home a second time at a different hour.
5. Picture Your Furniture in Each Room
Photos and staging can make rooms look larger than they are. Bring a tape measure, or ask for a floor plan, and check whether a bed, sectional or dining table will actually fit. Look at where the windows, doors, vents and outlets sit, since they decide where furniture can go.
Think about how the layout works for daily life, too. An open main floor suits some households, while others want a separate office, a guest room or a basement that can be closed off. A layout that works today and in five years is worth more than one extra square metre of living room.
6. Ask About Parking
Count the spots and compare them with the number of vehicles in the household. Check whether a truck or SUV will fit in the garage or under a condo building, and whether street parking needs a permit. In some condo buildings, parking spaces are sold separately or carry their own monthly fee, so confirm what is included in the price.
Winter adds a few more questions. Who clears the driveway or the visitor spots? Is there an outlet for a block heater? Is there room for a snowblower? These details are easy to miss on a sunny showing day.
7. Find the Laundry
Laundry is a chore that happens every week, so its location matters. A main-floor or second-floor laundry room saves trips up and down the stairs, while a basement setup may need a dedicated drain and good ventilation. In condos, check whether the unit has in-suite laundry or shares a common laundry room.
If there are no hookups, ask what it would take to add them. If the plan is to use a laundromat, check how far away the nearest one is. A missing laundry room is fixable, but the cost belongs in the budget before the offer.
8. Evaluate the Storage Space
Open closets, cupboards and pantries, and ask before opening anything that is not built in. Canadian households often need room for seasonal gear such as winter tires, skis, hockey bags and patio furniture, so look at the basement, garage, attic and any storage locker in a condo building.
Too little storage leads to clutter, and clutter makes even a large home feel small. If the home comes up short, consider whether shelving, a shed or a closet system could close the gap, and how much those would add to the cost.
9. Look Past the Staging
Professional staging is designed to help buyers picture themselves in a home, and it works. It can also draw the eye away from defects. Look at the bones of each room: ceilings, walls, window frames and floors. A freshly painted patch on a ceiling can hide an old water stain. A large rug can cover damaged flooring.
The red flags below are some of the most common ones to watch for during a showing. None of them is a deal breaker on its own, but each one is worth a question.
House Hunting Red Flags and What They Can Mean
Signs to watch for at a showing, what each one can point to and what to do next.
| What you notice | What it can point to | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Musty or damp smell | Poor ventilation, a past leak or mould | Ask about past water issues and flag it for the inspector |
| Heavy air freshener in every room | Odours from pets, smoke or moisture being masked | Ask the agent if windows can be opened, then check again |
| Sloped floors or sticking doors | Settling or a structural problem | Note the location and have the inspector check the foundation |
| Diagonal cracks above doors or windows | Foundation movement | Ask whether any foundation repairs have been done |
| Fog between window panes | A failed seal on double-glazed windows | Ask the age of the windows and budget for replacement |
| Fresh paint on one ceiling patch | A covered water stain from a leak above | Ask what was repaired and when |
| Soft floor around a toilet | A slow leak under the flooring | Flag it for the inspector and check the ceiling below |
| Stains or warping under the kitchen sink | A current or past plumbing leak | Run the tap and look for drips during the showing |
For general guidance only. A red flag at a showing is a reason to ask questions, not proof of a defect. A professional home inspection is the best way to confirm the condition of a home.
10. Take a Close Look at the Kitchen and Bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms are among the most expensive rooms to repair or update, so they deserve the closest look. In the kitchen, open cabinets and check under the sink for water stains, warping or a musty smell. Look at the age and condition of the appliances, and confirm which ones are included in the sale.
In the bathrooms, run the taps and the shower to check water pressure and how long the water takes to heat up. Look for cracked tiles, worn caulking, mould in the grout and soft spots in the floor around the toilet, which can signal a slow leak. Turn on the exhaust fan, since poor ventilation is a common cause of moisture problems.
The checklist below pulls all 10 tips together. Open each one during or after a showing to see what to check.
10-Point House Hunting Checklist
Tap each tip to see three things to check at a showing.
1. Location
- Time the commute at rush hour
- Confirm the school catchment
- Check the municipal website for planned development nearby
2. Smells
- Sniff the basement, closets and under sinks
- Note heavy air freshener use
- Ask whether the home has been tested for radon
3. Floors
- Walk each room slowly
- Watch for doors that swing or stick
- Look for diagonal cracks above door frames
4. Lighting
- Note which way the main rooms face
- Check for fog between window panes
- Book a second showing at a different time of day
5. Room size and layout
- Measure for the bed, sofa and dining table
- Note where outlets, vents and windows sit
- Ask for a floor plan
6. Parking
- Count spots against household vehicles
- Check garage and condo stall size
- Ask about permits, fees and snow clearing
7. Laundry
- Find the laundry and check the hookups
- Confirm in-suite laundry in a condo
- Ask what adding hookups would take
8. Storage
- Open closets, cupboards and the pantry
- Check the basement, garage and locker
- Picture where seasonal gear would go
9. Staging
- Look at ceilings for fresh paint patches
- Check flooring at the edges of large rugs
- Focus on walls, windows and floors, not decor
10. Kitchen and bathrooms
- Look under every sink for stains
- Run taps and the shower for pressure
- Check caulking, grout and the exhaust fan
Checklist for general guidance. A professional home inspection is still recommended before buying any home.
Keep Notes on Every Home You See
After a few showings, homes start to blur together. Take notes and photos at each one, with permission, and jot down what stood out, good or bad. Rating each home on the same 10 points makes it easier to compare them side by side and to spot the one that truly fits.
Why a Home Inspection Still Matters
House hunting tips help buyers spot red flags early, but they do not replace a professional inspection. An inspector looks at the roof, structure, plumbing, electrical and heating systems in far more detail than a showing allows. This guide covers whether to get a home inspection, and this overview explains how an inspection fits into the conditions on a real estate offer.
For a wider view of the buying process, from deposits to closing, see these important things to know before buying a home in Canada.
How a REMAX Agent Can Help
A local agent knows which streets flood, which buildings have special assessments coming and which homes have been on the market for a reason. A REMAX agent can book showings, point out issues during a walkthrough, pull comparable sales and guide the offer once the right home turns up. Connect with a REMAX agent to start house hunting.
Frequently Asked Questions About House Hunting
What should you look for when house hunting?
Look at the location, smells, floors, natural light, room sizes and layout, parking, laundry, storage and the condition of the kitchen and bathrooms. These are the features that are hardest or most expensive to change after buying a home.
What are red flags when viewing a house?
Common red flags include a musty smell, sloped floors, doors that stick, diagonal cracks above door frames, fog between window panes, fresh paint on one patch of ceiling and soft flooring around a toilet. Each one is worth a question and a note for the home inspector.
How many houses should you see before buying?
There is no set number. Some homebuyers find the right home in a few showings, while others see many more. Taking notes and rating each home on the same points makes it easier to compare them and recognize the right fit.
Should you visit a house more than once before making an offer?
A second showing can help, especially at a different time of day. It shows how the light changes, how busy the street gets and whether anything was missed the first time. Some buyers bring a family member or contractor along for a second look.
How do you check a house for mould during a showing?
Use your nose and eyes. A damp or musty smell, dark spots on walls or ceilings, peeling paint and water stains under sinks or in the basement can all point to moisture. A home inspector can confirm whether there is a problem.
Can you test a house for radon before buying it?
Health Canada recommends a long-term radon test of at least three months, which usually does not fit the timeline of a purchase. Homebuyers can ask the seller whether the home has been tested and plan to test after moving in.
Do house hunting tips replace a home inspection?
No. House hunting tips help buyers spot red flags early, but a professional home inspector checks the roof, structure, plumbing, electrical and heating systems in far more detail than a showing allows.
