The Focused House Tour Sprint: Touring Homes in Colorado
After careful consideration about your requirements for a new home and locating yourself in the market, it’s time to begin touring homes. When we start the house tour process with our buyer clients, we like to kick things off with what we call “The Sprint.” This is an intensive, high-energy tour of a variety of homes that meet your criteria. The goal isn’t to find “the one” right away—it’s to give you an immersive, hands-on experience that helps you better understand your preferences, priorities, and the dynamics of your local market. After the house tour sprint, you will have developed a clear picture of what’s available, which is an incredible advantage in the competitive Boulder-Denver real estate market.
What Is “The Sprint” About?
Exploration Over Selection
The Sprint is designed to give you a chance to walk through, see, and touch 10-15 homes that meet your initial criteria. It’s about comparing layouts, neighborhoods, and finishes to establish your priorities and get a feel for the value each home offers. By the end of this experience, you’ll have a clearer sense of your market niche and what matters most to you.
Key Focuses of The Sprint
- Style and Layout of the Home: Whether it’s a split-level, ranch, or two-story, different layouts create vastly different living experiences—even with similar square footage. Walking through a variety of house styles will help you understand which designs best suit your lifestyle.
- Location of the Neighborhood: Location shapes what your budget can achieve. For example, $600,000 in Boulder might offer proximity to the mountains, while in Lafayette, Erie or Arvada, it might mean a larger backyard or more square footage. The Sprint helps you weigh these trade-offs: Is it more important to be close to restaurants or have room to grow?
- Interior Condition and Finishes: Photos don’t always tell the full story. A home that looks newly renovated in pictures could reveal cheap materials or subpar craftsmanship in person. The in-person house tour will help you discover what quality of finishes matter most to you and how much renovation you’re comfortable taking on.
Why We Visit Homes Already Under Contract
It might seem counterintuitive, but Agents for Home Buyers will make a point of visiting homes that are already under contract. Why? Because homes under contract are those that were the most desirable in the current market. Comparing these best homes with other available homes for sale gives you a better understanding of what competing buyers value most. If you only tour homes that haven’t sold, you won’t get an accurate education on your market niche.
The Goal of Your House Tour Sprint
After completing The Sprint, our clients feel more confident in their home-buying journey. They have a clear picture of their priorities, making it easier to identify the perfect home when it hits the market (and sometimes before it is listed). Plus, by touring together, we as your representatives gain invaluable insights into your preferences, allowing us to provide even better guidance in your home search.
Ongoing Support
After the home tour sprint, we’re available to tour homes as soon as we find a home that meets your refined criteria. With our team approach, you’ll never have to worry about missing a showing due to scheduling conflicts. There’s always someone ready to assist, ensuring you don’t miss out on finding your dream home.
The Sprint isn’t just about touring homes—it’s about empowering you with knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions.
Next Steps in Buying a First-Time Home
Contact Agents for Home Buyers! Lindsey and Danielle can help you navigate the home buying process to find a great home you will love. It’s what we have been doing as buyers agents for 25 years in Boulder County, Jefferson County, Broomfield, Larimer County, and nearby.
Step 1: Educate Yourself About the Home Buying Process
Step 2: Form Your Team of Real Estate Professionals: Mortgage Lender and Buyer Agent
Step 3: Set Realistic Goals for Your Home Search
Step 4: Beware the MLS and Online Real Estate Databases
Step 5: Begin a Focused Home Search
Step 6: “The Sprint” of House Tours
Step 7: Craft Your Home Purchase Offer
Step 8: Negotiate the Contract
Step 9: Colorado Real Estate Documents and Forms
Step 10: Home Loans and Financing
Resources: Home Buyer Assistance Programs