First-home field guide · SHOP
Compare homes using your priorities, questions and verified information.
Use the same questions for every home so a strong first impression does not replace your priorities. Separate observations from facts that require a professional or official source. A home inspection and an appraisal serve different purposes; ask your agent and lender what each process covers. Never diagnose a property from a worksheet. Bring condition concerns to a qualified inspector and insurance questions to an insurance professional. This scorecard helps organize your investigation, not decide whether a property is safe.
Reference: CFPB homebuying guidance. Checked October 24, 2026. The exercises are original planning prompts; they are not lender rules.
| Item | Your figure / answer | Source / next action |
|---|---|---|
| Non-negotiable household needs | ||
| Layout and daily access | ||
| Complete estimated monthly cost | ||
| Condition questions for inspector | ||
| Insurance / association questions | ||
| Verified facts and unresolved items |
My next decision:
One question to resolve, who can answer it, and follow-up date:
A house can be attractive and still miss a requirement that matters every day. Agree on the essentials before comparing finishes.
Try this: Write three non-negotiable needs and three preferences. Give each toured property a separate score for the needs.
Comparisons get muddled when one property gets careful notes and another gets only a feeling. Use the same categories after each tour.
Try this: Record layout, location, estimated costs, condition questions and unanswered items for each home while the visit is fresh.
A map estimate cannot tell you everything about your daily routine. Investigate the trips that matter to your household at relevant times.
Try this: Plan a realistic route to work, school or care. Record your observations and any cost or schedule questions to verify.
A stain, sound or visible repair can be a reason to investigate, not a diagnosis. Record the observation accurately for the appropriate professional.
Try this: Write what you saw, where it was and what you want the inspector to evaluate. Avoid guessing the cause or repair cost.
A room label does not establish that the space works for your furniture or routine. Bring the dimensions that matter to your decision.
Try this: List essential furniture or equipment dimensions and check the relevant spaces with permission. Note access and doorway questions too.
If a property has an association, ask how to obtain the governing documents and cost information. Read the actual materials before assuming a planned use is allowed.
Try this: List questions about dues, assessments, rules and your intended use. Ask your agent or the association for the relevant documents.
Staging can help you imagine a space, but your daily belongings and habits may differ. Evaluate storage and circulation with your own routine in mind.
Try this: List what needs storage and where it would go. Note any space that works only if you buy or remove furniture.
A paint preference and a condition concern need different kinds of evaluation. Separating them helps you decide what needs professional attention first.
Try this: Create condition-to-investigate, required-for-your-use and optional-cosmetic lists. Ask the appropriate professional about the first category.
A property-specific insurance conversation can uncover cost and coverage questions before you commit. Ask for written information rather than using another homeowner’s bill.
Try this: Request quotes for the property and ask about coverage, deductibles and exclusions. Share relevant lender requirements with the insurance professional.
Inspection services can differ in scope. Learn what is included and what may need a separate specialist before relying on the appointment.
Try this: Ask the inspector about scope, exclusions, timing, report delivery and follow-up questions. Record any additional evaluations recommended.
How you enter, carry groceries or use stairs can shape everyday life. Evaluate the practical path through the home for your own needs.
Try this: Walk through a normal arrival, laundry routine and evening. Note access issues or modifications to discuss with a qualified professional.
A listing or casual comment may be a useful starting point, but important facts deserve verification. Identify the source you need for your decision.
Try this: List three property facts that materially affect your choice. Ask your agent where each can be confirmed through appropriate records or professionals.
Decide what you need from a location using your own visits and reliable information. Avoid letting a label stand in for the activities that matter to your household.
Try this: List your preferred daily activities and the access each location offers. Verify schedules, distances or services directly when important.
Do not assume an appliance, fixture or other item will remain just because you saw it during the tour. Ask your agent how inclusions are documented.
Try this: List items you expect to stay and ask where that expectation is recorded in the purchase terms.
A short pause can help separate excitement from your original priorities. Revisit your notes before changing a must-have to justify a favorite listing.
Try this: Review each home against the needs you wrote before touring. Record any priority you changed and why.
If you revisit a home, use the time to answer the questions left from the first tour. A focused list is more useful than starting over.
Try this: Choose the top five unanswered items and identify how each can be checked during the visit or through a professional.
If a home needs work for your intended use, investigate feasibility and costs with qualified professionals. A rough idea should not become a purchase assumption.
Try this: Write the proposed work, professional needed, estimate status and timing question. Keep unverified assumptions out of your firm budget.
After several tours, it is easy to attach an answer to the wrong house. Keep each property’s records and questions together.
Try this: Create a separate page per property with date, photos you are permitted to take, contacts and follow-up items.
Knowing what would make a home unsuitable can save time and emotional energy. Define the boundary before you are negotiating with yourself.
Try this: Write a pass condition for layout, total cost and unresolved property concerns. Discuss any change before ignoring it.
A focused question list helps an agent, inspector or insurance professional address the decision you actually face. Start with the issues that could change your choice.
Try this: Rank the unresolved questions by consequence. Send a non-sensitive summary to the appropriate person and record the response.
Bring the summary worksheet and the question you most want answered. You can be early in the process; a useful conversation starts with where you are.
Brooks Kelly · NMLS #208792
brooks@planethomelending.com · (214) 402-2647
@thebrookskelly on Instagram
General educational planning material, not a loan offer, commitment to lend, credit-repair service, or legal/tax advice. Eligibility, terms and availability depend on the actual transaction and applicable requirements. Ask qualified professionals about your circumstances.