How Do I Schedule a Home Tour?
Written by Brandon Moyes
You’re browsing homes online and find one you love. Naturally, the next question is: How do I actually go see it?
Zillow and Redfin make the answer look simple. Click “Schedule a Tour,” choose a time, and you’re done.
But before you click that button, there’s something important to understand: you may also be choosing the real estate agent you’ll work with. And that’s a decision worth making intentionally.
Should I Schedule a Tour Through Zillow or Redfin?
Zillow, Redfin and other real estate websites are great tools for finding homes. But if you don’t already have an agent, requesting a tour through one of these platforms may connect you with an available agent through their system.
That’s convenient, but convenience probably shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing someone who may help you make one of the largest purchases of your life.
Instead, do a little research. Read an agent’s reviews, ask for references, learn about their experience, and make sure they know the area where you’re looking. A good local agent can provide context about neighborhoods, property values, resale considerations and issues that may be specific to the area.
Use real estate websites to find houses. Choose your Realtor intentionally.
So, How Should I Schedule a Home Tour?
If you already have an agent, it’s easy. When you find a home you want to see, send them the address or listing and tell them when you’re available. Your agent can coordinate access and schedule a private showing.
If you don’t have an agent yet, consider finding one before you start scheduling private tours. Once you have someone you trust, they can become your point of contact whenever an interesting property comes on the market.
And if you find several homes you want to see, send them all over. Your agent can organize the appointments into an efficient route.
Why Not Just Go to Open Houses?
There’s nothing wrong with open houses, especially if you’re casually exploring the market. But relying exclusively on them can make a serious home search unnecessarily slow.
You’re limited to the properties that happen to be open that weekend and the hours selected by the sellers and listing agents.
With your own agent, you can often tour six, seven or even eight homes in the span of a couple of hours. Your agent handles the scheduling and plans an efficient route, allowing you to compare multiple properties while they're still fresh in your mind.
That can be much more effective than spending weekend after weekend driving between scattered open houses.
Your Agent Should Do More Than Unlock the Door
There’s another major benefit to touring with an experienced buyer’s agent: you have someone there helping you think critically about the property.
It’s easy to walk into a beautiful home and immediately start imagining yourself living there. Your agent should also be looking for the things that aren't as exciting.
Are there signs of previous water intrusion? Does an addition or renovation raise questions? Are there aspects of the location that could affect resale? Are there unusual HOA restrictions? Does something about the property's condition deserve a closer look during inspections?
A real estate agent isn't a home inspector, but an experienced agent can help you spot potential concerns, ask better questions and identify issues that may warrant further investigation before you buy.
The Simplest Way to Start Touring Homes
If you're ready to start seeing properties, the process can be simple:
Choose a buyer’s agent intentionally. Check reviews and references, talk with them, and make sure they have experience in the area where you want to buy.
Browse homes wherever you like. Zillow, Redfin and other real estate websites are excellent search tools.
Send the listings you like to your agent. They can coordinate the private showings for you.
Tour several homes at once. Your agent can organize multiple appointments into an efficient route.
Ask questions as you go. Use your agent’s experience to better understand the benefits, drawbacks and potential risks of each property.
The internet has made finding homes incredibly easy. But finding a house and choosing the person who helps you buy it are two different decisions.
Browse wherever you want. Save as many houses as you'd like. But when you're ready to start walking through front doors, choose someone you trust to walk through them with you.