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Introducing myTime Self-Guided Tours

At Brookfield Residential we are proud to be innovating the best places to call home, and we are excited to introduce you to myTime – self-guided new home tours on demand. myTime is a convenient way to tour our stylish model homes or move-in ready homes on your own time and schedule. Find your dream home today and tour it on your own schedule. It’s that easy.  

Here’s how myTime works:

Step 1: Find  the model home or move-in ready home you would like to tour and click on the myTime icon.

Step 2: Schedule an appointment by phone or email [email protected]

Step 3: Receive a personalized digital code to unlock the home.

Step 4: Take your self-guided, private tour.

Together we’re a community and your health and safety matter to us . Our focus right now is creating safe conditions for people and the community, while remaining accessible to our customers who are currently in one of the many stages in their home buying and homeownership journey.  

Find your dream home and take a myTime self-guided tour today – new home shopping has never been easier.

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Home touring: 9 things to look for

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Open houses and home tours are an essential part of the homebuying process. They allow buyers to envision themself living in their dream home, but they can also be overwhelming.

Eleanor Lynch, a Touring Specialist at Orchard, recommends leaning on your agent for help. Her experience as a homeowner, seller, and agent has shaped the way she advises buyers.

“Think of us as multifaceted resources. We’re more than just a resource for that particular home. We're trained in real estate, but we know neighborhoods and can give you the larger picture, which is more critical."

For those looking to get the most out of their time, here’s what to look for when touring a home.

3 things to do before your home tour

The average home tour lasts 15 to 30 minutes, according to Lynch. Here are three things to consider before stepping foot in a home to make the most of those minutes.

1. Figure out how much you can afford — and commit to staying in budget

Save yourself the heartbreak of falling in love with a house outside of your price range and set a hard limit. One way to do this is to obtain pre-approval before beginning your house-hunting journey and budgeting out what expenses you can afford. This includes your mortgage payment , utilities, maintenance, and more.

2. Make a list of wants and needs

It can be overwhelming to evaluate every aspect of a home. Narrow down what you want and need out of a home so you can quickly assess if a house meets or falls short of your wants and needs.

→ Download the ultimate house-hunting checklist 

3. Check out the neighborhood

There are many factors to consider when thinking about what neighborhood you want to move to — the proximity to work, friends, and other important hubs. It can be hard to evaluate these during your short home tour, especially if you’re taking multiple tours in one day, so spend some time beforehand scouting out the locations.

→ Here’s how to choose the right location when buying a house

What to look for when touring a house

Once you’re in the home, here are some of the things to observe. Ask your agent in advance if there are other things to consider.

Mildew and other foul smells can be a sign of more serious damage from mold , pets, or pests. 

And if the house smells overwhelmingly like air fresheners? Lynch says that might be a red flag, too. Ask the sellers if there has been any water or fire damage or similar and be on the lookout for other indicators.

Signs of damage

While a home inspection and appraisal will help identify any major existing damage in a home, Lynch says catching these signs before putting in an offer can save you from the hassle of deciding if you want to walk away from the purchase or work out seller concessions .

Be on the lookout for these common indications of damage:

• Dark spots on ceiling or walls
• Cracks in ceiling or walls
• Gaps in windows and door frames
• Sagging or sloping floors

→ Here are warning signs a house might collapse

Floor plan and size of rooms

You can change the paint color or update the window treatments without much hassle, but moving or adding walls can be a huge investment. These projects take time and money, so why not buy a home with a floor plan and features that fit your needs?

As you walk through the home, look closely at the size of the rooms — can they fit your furniture? Do they suit your needs? Pay attention to the flow of the rooms, too — can you imagine yourself going about life here? Or would the lack of counterspace keep you from hosting the dinner parties you’re known for?

Architectural and yard features

Just like with floor plans and room sizes, it’s time consuming and expensive to turn a ranch-style home into a mission-style one, or to turn a barren landscape into a backyard pool oasis . Take note of the architecture of the home as you tour — do these features fit in with your ideal of home? What about the front and backyards — can you see yourself enjoying time spent lounging in and maintaining these spaces?

Lynch also recommends looking closely at the windows and natural lighting. “Is this gonna be enough light for me? Or does this seem really dark right now in the summer, and it’s going to be really, really dark in the winter?”

Accessibility

It costs homeowners an average of $700 to $8,000 to make a home accessible for people with disabilities, depending on the original condition of the home and the accommodations needed. Widening hallways and remodeling kitchens and bathrooms for ADA compliance can cost even more — as much as $40,000 each.

Don’t be afraid to bring a tape measure to assess the accessibility of the homes you’re touring. Doing so could ensure a smoother moving process and big savings in remodeling costs.

Your car needs a place to live, too. Ask the sellers about their parking arrangements. Think about yourself and guests you may like to host. Parking can be competitive and expensive in densely populated areas, while more suburban or rural neighborhoods have garages and little competition for street parking. 

Appliances and systems

Ask the homeowners about their major systems like their water heater, appliances, and HVAC. These systems can be costly to repair, so it’s best to get a sense of when they were installed, if they’re under warranty, and if there have been any major issues with them.

Bonus : Ask about the home’s insulation, too. An HVAC system is only as good as its thermal envelope. Ask the sellers what their insulation’s R-rating is and make sure it aligns with Energy Star’ s recommendations.

→ Learn the difference between baseboard heating and forced air

Condition of the roof and foundation

The roof and foundation of a house are central to the home’s overall health. Don’t be afraid to scrutinize each when you tour a home to protect yourself from buying a house that needs substantial (and expensive) repairs. Ask the sellers about the condition and of both and if they’ve had any major issues with either.

→ Learn more about buying a house with foundation issues

Climate and environmental risks

Mother nature can pose a unique threat to your home. Be aware of the home’s proximity to some of these environmental threats:

• Extreme weather
• Radon and other environmental toxins
• Power plants or similar

What comes after a home tour?

Remember, it’s not your responsibility to catch every potential problem with a home — your home inspection and appraisal will go a long way to protect you from buying a house with repairs you can’t afford to take on.

When you’ve found the house that checks all your boxes, it’s time to craft an offer on your dream home. If you’re worried about standing out to sellers, struggling to juggle buying while selling, or simply want an ally in the process, Orchard can help. 

→ Learn more about how Orchard works

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How to Tour a House Remotely: A Guide for Homebuyers

• House Hunting
• Shopping for Homes Online
• Published on April 20th, 2020

Kim Dinan is a writer, journalist and author. She's the outdoor news editor at Blue Ridge Outdoors and writes regularly for her local paper in Asheville, NC, covering everything from the necessity of home inspections to trends in the local economy. Kim is also the author of "The Yellow Envelope," a memoir about the time she sold her house and traveled around the globe.

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At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict  editorial integrity in each of our posts.

You’ve done your research online and found what looks like the perfect home. You’d love to go take a look, but due to circumstances (you live out of town or, ahem, there’s a global pandemic), you aren’t able to tour the home in person.

When you can’t walk through a house yourself , the next best thing is a remote home tour conducted by someone you trust , like your real estate agent . If you must buy a house remotely, this could be one of the only ways for you to tour the home before you buy.

Here’s what you need to know about touring a home remotely.

How a remote home tour works

To take part in a remote home tour, all you need is an agent local to the area where you would like to buy and the ability to communicate through an online platform.

To enable you to see the home, your agent will walk through the house for you with a cell phone, using FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, or another video chat service, showing you the house one-on-one. The National Association of Realtors says that software like Immoviewer , which offers video tours, and BombBomb , which offers video check-ins, are also becoming popular options for remote home tours.

As you remotely tour the home, you’ll be able to ask your agent questions, and your agent will be your eyes and ears, checking all the nooks and crannies of the home so you can gather the information you need to decide whether you want to move forward with a purchase.

Work with a qualified agent

Because you won’t be able to tour the home in person, it’s extremely important to have an agent you trust — and whose opinion you value. It’s also a great idea to work with an agent who knows the area where you want to move intimately because an agent with in-depth knowledge of the area will know certain things about the neighborhood you won’t be able to gather during a remote home tour, like if the home is in a noisy flight path or located near a busy road.

Before you settle on an agent, you’ll want to make sure that they have a strong idea of what you’re looking for in a home. Has your agent listened closely enough to know that having a fenced-in yard for your dog is much more important to you than having a second full bath, for example?

“I do a detailed needs analysis with all of my buyers, whether they are buying remotely or not,” says Linda Devlin , a top real estate agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“When your agent does an analysis upfront, she can dial in on the parameters that are important to you and make the best use of everyone’s time.”

Your agent will be your boots on the ground, helping you figure out which home is right for you, and that means they need to be dedicated to finding the perfect fit.

Research homes in advance

When you’re ready to begin your online home search , your agent will get you access to the Multiple Listing Service ( MLS ), which has all the most up-to-date information about homes currently for sale. “We send virtual buyers the portal ahead of time so they can review the property,” explains Mike Sobh , an experienced real estate agent in Wayne County, Michigan.

As you review the MLS , look carefully at listings. You’ll want to read the descriptions, study all the photos and videos, familiarize yourself with the home’s features and attributes, and ask your agent to pull comparable listings ( comps ) for the homes you like best so you can get a sense of what they are selling for right now.

Once you’ve decided on one or more homes to tour remotely, get your hands on the floor plans, if possible; they’ll help you navigate these remote tours more effectively. “The biggest thing about virtually touring a home is to do your homework on the property,” says Sobh.

Devlin says she likes to make sure her clients are prepared by sending them all the disclosures that are available for the property. “That way buyers are armed with information about important aspects of the property, like the kind of heating and cooling system it has.”

Attend a virtual open house if you can

Before you decide to have your agent walk through the home while virtually showing it to you, see if you can first attend the home’s virtual open house. Listing agents will sometimes offer this service, and it can give you the opportunity to walk through a house remotely.

This won’t be the same as a remote home tour; you’ll be part of an audience with other buyers instead of one-on-one — but it’s still a great chance to get a peek at the home and see if you want to pursue it further.

If you can’t catch the live virtual open house, see if it’s recorded and posted online, such as on the listing agent’s Facebook page (often, they’re recorded as Facebook Live events that can be viewed later) or directly on the MLS listing.

While you attend the virtual open house, pay attention and take notes so you can talk to your agent about whether the house is a good fit for you.

Schedule your remote home tour

If you like the house and want to learn more, schedule a remote home tour with your agent. “If a client is interested in a specific property, we will then set up a virtual tour through an online platform like Facetime, Zoom, or even Facebook Messenger,” says Sobh. Devlin adds that the platform through which you participate in the virtual home tour is “the client’s choice.”

Typically, your agent will be the one walking you through the house — and ideally, they won’t be accompanied by anybody else, including the seller or listing agent, just like if you were attending the home tour in person.

And just like an in-person tour, the same rules apply during a remote home tour: show up on time so you’re not wasting the agent’s or seller’s time — or yours.

Pay close attention

Your agent can give you more details about the house, but this is one of your best opportunities to learn everything you can about the home. During your virtual tour, ask your agent to open cabinets and drawers, give you feedback on whether the floors squeak, how it smells, and whether you can hear street noise from inside the house.

“I make sure to point out all the little things that are wrong , so when they have their inspection, they know what to pinpoint and what questions to ask,” says Sobh. He says he absolutely makes sure to point out any make-or-break issues, such as “cracks in the foundation, mold under the sinks, cracks in the ceiling, or shingles on the roof that appear raised.”

“My job is to be forthcoming about what I am noticing,” says Devlin. “I show them all aspects of the home. I make sure they can see the floors and walls and get a glimpse of the roof. I show them the windows and let them know if they’re easy to open. I show them the appliances and let them know if they are included.

“My job isn’t as an inspector, but I can highlight things that they should be aware of and advise on what they should get a professional to look at in the future.”

Take notes while you tour

You will want to make sure you’re following up on any questions or concerns you have after remotely touring the house, and if you’re on a tour for 30 minutes or more (which is distinctly possible), you might forget some of the questions that arose during the beginning of the tour — so take notes.

You may even consider recording the call or asking your agent to take videos of certain parts of the house so you can study them later. “One great thing about a virtual tour is you can always refer back to it later,” Sobh points out.

Have your agent show you the neighborhood, too

You might decide that the house is perfect, but you’ll want to make sure that the neighborhood is a good fit for you, too. Researching some aspects of the neighborhood can easily be done online, such as checking crime rates or your state’s sex offender registry to see if any offenders live nearby.

Other issues are harder to pinpoint online, and that’s where your agent comes in. Do the neighbors have a barking dog? Is there an unsightly building down the street? You can check Google Street View , but that can’t replace the value of having your agent scope out the neighborhood in person. “I always drive around the neighborhood for my clients,” says Sobh.

Devlin says that one of the lenders she works with provides a report with detailed information on the property, including its walkability factor and the amenities in the area. “It’s a nice report that we can provide to our clients to give them a written outline of what is local.”

She adds, “if they want something more in-depth, I’ll go into the area and highlight what is nearby.”

After the virtual tour, follow up

After you’ve toured the home remotely and done your due diligence on the neighborhood, follow up with your agent to talk about whether you think this house will be a fit for you (it’s probably best not to discuss this during the home tour itself).

You’ll want to ask your agent about any additional inspections they think you should request. And if you feel like you need to see the home one more time, or have questions that can’t be answered by reviewing the video of the first remote tour, ask your agent to set up a time to remotely tour the house again.

Once you feel like you’ve got a good feel for the house, decide whether you want to move forward with the home or whether you want to move in a different direction. If this isn’t the house for you, you can always (remotely) tour the next one.

Header Image Source: (Daxiao Productions / ShutterStock)

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Contributing Author

An On-Demand, Interactive Self-Tour Experience

The convenience home shoppers want. the solution sales teams deserve., exceed the expectations of modern home shoppers.

When surveyed, 79% of new construction buyers agree that the only way to understand the layout of a home is to see it in-person. Of those surveyed, 70% also indicated that it would be easier to unlock properties with their phone and tour them in-person on their own time — up from 64% reported in 2020. (Source: Zillow New Construction Consumer Housing Trends Report 2021)

These statistics reinforce what we already know to be true about the growing demands of today’s home shoppers and UTour can help you deliver on these expectations.

According to Zillow’s New Construction Consumer Housing Trends Report 2020 , 59% of new home buyers prefer to tour homes in-person before making a purchase decision and 64% agree that it would be easier for them to self-tour homes on their own time. Per Zillow, this is “an indication that they also prefer to tour without an agent or sales rep when experiencing a home for the first time.” UTour is a critical tool for homebuilders to increase sales efficiently through more in-person, “no-contact” self-guided tours after normal sales hours.

Today's Homebuyer Expects:

More convenience, less sales pressure, "no-contact" experience.

“No-Contact” Experience

Industry problems, solved by utour, overwhelming volume of interest.

Due to unprecedented market conditions, many builders are past capacity and unable to meet demand. UTour can keep home shoppers engaged while giving your sales team more time to handle in-person appointments.

Staffing and Scheduling Issues

Quality sales professionals are difficult to find. Many talented sales people won’t consider working for a builder as they don’t want to work weekends. UTour fills gaps in the schedule, offering tours without the sales team present.

Lingering COVID-19 Concerns

Even with the height of the pandemic behind us, COVID-19 has triggered a lasting impact on consumer behavior. Home shoppers’ expectations for a safe, no-contact experience still remain — and UTour can deliver.

Rising to the Top at The Nationals 2021

Utour earns silver awards in two categories:.

Best Use of Technology

Best Marketing Promotion by Supplier or Industry Partner

Self-Tour Online Guides & Resources

Ready to embrace the innovative technology that today’s home shoppers expect? Use the free resources below to learn how UTour is designed to make life easier for both home shoppers and homebuilders. It’s exciting and intuitive, and our team is available to help every step of the way.

Among the Homebuilders Tapping into the Power of UTour:

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The Best Clever Home Tours of 2020

By Zoë Sessums

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

It feels hard to make end-of-year statements this year. Anything along the lines of “We learned so much,” or “How crazy was that?” sounds incredibly understated, and pretty much wrong. Yet, here we are, another year passed, and we can’t help but look back on the way things were. Despite everything, we kept finding so many beautiful, fabulous, jealousy-inducing homes to help pass the time in 2020. We dug into our archive of home tours and found this year’s fan favorites. From genius small-space solutions to brilliant yet doable DIYs, and a slew of amazing vintage finds, these stories highlight the essence of Clever. Smart living can be beautiful too. Check out the best ones below.

12. Inside Supermodel Elsa Hosk’s Vintage-Filled SoHo Loft

Elsa leans proudly on her coveted Mario Bellini modular sofa wearing a Jacquemus suit and By Far sandals. In the background, Elsa’s favorite piece, an Ettore Sottsass mirror , casts a pink glow throughout the space. “I’ve always wanted it. Every time I had a big job I would buy something that I’d been wanting forever,” she remarks of the celebrity-favorite mirror. 

Our fall cover star, Elsa Hosk , the supermodel and all-around stylish Swede, decorated a stunning space in downtown NYC that’s 100% her. “Design is the ultimate creative process—you can really reflect your feelings and your mood into your surroundings,” she says. From the candy-colored bedroom to her plush dressing room, the mood in Elsa’s loft is joyful, energetic, and incredibly cool.

11. Learn One Designer’s Secrets to Making a Studio Apartment Feel Grand

The living area of Peter’s apartment features a mix of custom pieces , like the sofa and window treatments, alongside vintage elements, like the midcentury-modern coffee table that he sourced on Chairish .

Peter Sandel has a few tricks for making a studio apartment feel grand. For his own West Village home, the interior designer chose fresh finishes, statement furniture, and tons of texture.

10. This Miami Designer Sources Local Vintage Goods to Enliven Her Rental

Carla at her travertine-and-chrome dining table, which she snagged from a private seller in Key Biscayne.

Though interior designer Carla Lores rents an apartment in the Art Deco Historic District of Miami Beach, the only identifiable relic of the home’s 1930s origin is an ornate, nonworking fireplace. All of Carla’s furniture is secondhand, so she keeps her home current with tchotchkes from contemporary artists. “I like the idea of holding on to these new objects so at some point they become vintage,” she explains.

9. A Little Goes a Long Way in This 500-Square-Foot Walk-Up

“I’m very inspired by my friend Courtney Applebaum , she helps me pick out things,” says Krissy, who is a big fan of shopping via eBay—where she found the vintage yellow rug . 

By Mailin Sophie Zieser

By Erika Owen

By Kristi Kellogg

Five hundred square feet may not seem like much, but Sky Ting cofounder Krissy Jones turned her New York City walk-up into a truly dreamy space. “I love working with my friends in New York,” says Krissy when describing all her prized objects.

8. This Creative Consultant Transformed Her Home With a Lot of Art and a $40 Hack

“I knew what I liked,” Natasha says. “I have a midcentury aesthetic, but I’m also eclectic and have a lot of pieces from traveling that don’t adhere to a specific time period or design style. I wanted to marry it all together and evoke eclecticism without feeling untidy or overwhelming.”

In her 350-square-foot Upper West Side studio, Natasha Nyanin managed to fit a living and dining area, home office, bed, bookshelf, and tons of bold art and decor.

7. Laura Harrier Doesn’t Care What You Think About Her Light Pink L.A. Home

Actor Laura Harrier lounges in Oscar de la Renta pajamas atop her vintage sofa. To adjust it to Laura’s height (she’s five feet nine) and add a “side table,” interior designer Tiffany Howell built a floating platform underneath. Painting by Jessalyn Brooks . Fashion styling by Danielle Goldberg .

Our very first digital cover star, actor Laura Harrier , opened the doors to her L.A. home, which is filled with major vintage gems and the most soothing shades of pink—just don’t call it millennial! “Well, when you call it that, it makes me like it less,” she says, laughing.

6. Tour a Philly Apartment With the Most Brilliant Kitchen Update

Zoë Rayn and Eddie Russell lounge in their living room. Along one wall is a record player and a chrome lamp that Eddie found on the street and had rewired. “It’s perfect and works perfectly,” says Zoë.

Personal beauty is imbued in every corner of Zoë Rayn, the founder of Caldera Magazine , and Eddie Russell’s home, which they share with their cat, Karen. The warm and eclectic space is minimally furnished with midcentury vintage finds and art pieces, which play well with the building’s architectural details and natural light.

5. Isabella Boylston’s Brooklyn Apartment Is an Art-Filled Oasis

Isabella and Dan, who’ve been together for seven years, have filled their apartment with artwork from friends and family.

Although Isabella Boylston , the award-winning principal ballet dancer, says her 1,500-square-foot space still feels like a work in progress, she’s enjoyed the process of putting her home together with husband, Daniel Shin. “Dan is the interior-decorating guru,” she says. Dan replies, “My mom has always been a really good interior decorator. I get it all from her. Except for the middle room—the middle room is probably more my dad.”

4. Molly Bernard’s Brooklyn Apartment Is an Instant Mood Lifter

Molly and Henry at home in Brooklyn.

In her Brooklyn apartment, actor Molly Bernard let a piece of statement artwork by friend and fellow Clever home tour subject Ethan Cook guide her color palette and furnishing choices. “He brought it over the day I moved in,” Molly says, “and that ended up informing the design of the whole room.”

3. This Couple’s Minimalist Brownstone Exudes the Control We All Crave

“Natural light in itself is a form of art and we view our place as a way to study it,” adds Charlie. “In the winter, the light comes through the windows differently than it does during the summer. When you study light, you realize that there are many ways for light to get from point A to point B and each way has a subtly different outcome.”

Minimalism requires meticulousness. It’s a mindset photographer Charlie Schuck and prop stylist Natasha Felker have mastered in their Brooklyn brownstone, where their curated possessions meet a clean palette awash in natural light. “If there’s something we fall in love with, we first look to see if it can be found used, at a discount, or for a trade,” Charlie says. “If not, then we buy or commission the piece to be constructed.”

2. This Vibrant Barcelona Apartment Has the Most Remarkable Doorways

Wood and leather chairs by Heaps & Woods create an immediate warmth in the living room. Robert Rauschenberg’s Storyline II lithograph, one of Juan’s most prized prints, brings the room together with vibrant hues and a buoyant mood.

Juan Moreno Lopéz-Calull is the founder and designer at John Brown Projects , a Barcelona-based interior design firm and art consultancy. As a 28-year-old city dweller, Juan had the luxury of creating a space catered exclusively to his own needs and vision. Upon securing the apartment, he excitedly imagined it as a canvas to showcase the artists he champions professionally, a platform to articulate his team’s mission and capabilities, and an opportunity to tell his story. The outcome is a home that exists as a living, breathing testament to Juan’s very personal aesthetic ideals, passions, and philosophies.

1. Green Is the Theme in This Moody Victorian in San Francisco

Why not have a gumball machine in your foyer, like the one seen here?

In 2017 candy store co-owner Alan Ledford purchased this exquisite 1890 Victorian, which is full of sweet surprises. Its innately adorned exterior, period molding, and original brickwork are just some of the things that initially drew him to the 3,000-square-foot condo in San Francisco. 

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

By Morgan Goldberg

By Audrey Lee

What to look for when touring a home

What You’ll Learn

How to prepare for your home search ahead of time

How to determine your wants and needs lists and narrow down location

What aspects and features to consider when touring a home

House hunting is hands-down the most exciting stage of the homebuying process, but it can also be one of the most nerve-wracking. You probably have some idea of the things you need in a home, the things you want in a home, and things you absolutely don’t want in a home. But when you tour a home in person, it’s easy to lose focus or pay attention to the wrong details.

There are typically two ways to see a home that’s on the market: attend an open house or schedule a private tour. In some instances, you may also have the opportunity to do a virtual tour of the home—which can be a useful alternative if you're unable to attend in person.

As the name suggests, an open house is an open invitation for anyone to show up and inspect a home during set hours. A listing agent will be there to field questions and give interested parties more information on the home. Private tours are usually set up with the listing agent or your own real estate agent. When a home really catches your eye, it’s typically better to schedule a private tour so you can take your time asking questions and take any measurements and photos.

This guide will help you focus your thoughts and stay organized as you prepare for home tours, so you can make informed decisions and place an offer with confidence.

How to prepare for a home tour

First things first: find out how much home you can afford.

Before you start browsing listings, let alone touring homes, you should have an idea of what you can afford. To avoid getting your heart set on a home that’s out of your financial reach, spend a little time with a mortgage affordability calculator . These kinds of tools can help you confirm hypothetical home loan amounts, purchase prices, monthly mortgage payments, and whether you have enough in down payment savings.

Pro tip: Come prepared with a pre-approval letter

Confirm your eligibility for a home loan by going through the pre-approval process . (FYI: it takes as little as 3 minutes with Better Mortgage, and it doesn’t require a hard credit check.) A pre-approval letter will provide you with a more accurate estimate of how much you’ll be able to borrow once you meet your lender’s conditions. Pre-approval letters can also add leverage to any home purchase offers, because they show agents and sellers that your offer is serious and you’ve already done the legwork to secure future financing.

Make a list of your “needs” vs. your “wants”

Once you have an idea of what you can afford, it’s time to think about what your ideal home looks like. Start by making a concrete list of the things you absolutely need.

Perhaps you require a certain number of rooms to accommodate your family, work, or lifestyle. For example, you know you’ll need three bedrooms for your growing family, or an extra room to serve as a home office because your company’s going remote. Understanding your must-haves will help you narrow down your home search so you won’t waste time touring houses that aren’t quite right.

Next, make a list of your wants—the features and things that may be nice to have but you could live without. These might include things like yard space, new appliances, or a fireplace. In other words, they’re things you picture in your dream home, but you could live without them. These will come in handy to weigh the pros and cons of similar properties.

If you’re having trouble determining a need vs. a want, think about whether the feature would be easy and affordable to change once you move in, or whether it would be impractical or prohibitively expensive. For example, adding a dishwasher is a relatively small and inexpensive project compared to adding a garage. So, if your heart is set on a garage, you might consider that a need.

If you’re looking at home listings online, they’ll likely have different criteria you can use to filter listings. If you’re working with a real estate agent, talking to them about your needs and wants will help them find properties that may work for you.

Location, location, location

There’s a reason why “location, location, location” is such a common refrain in real estate. The address of your home can play a significant role in its appreciation as an investment. And if you plan on living in the home for even a short period of time, you want to make sure it’s somewhere you’re comfortable spending time. Before deciding on a location, it’s worth considering:

• Lifestyle and preferences: Are you looking for a home in a quiet suburb or a condo in a walkable downtown area? Do you want an acre of land, or do you want to avoid lawn maintenance altogether? Are you comfortable with a house on a main road, or would you prefer something more tucked away? Having some basic lifestyle criteria will help narrow your search.
• School district: If you have kids or plan to have a family in the future, school districts might be a major factor in your home search. Not only can schools affect your kids’ education experience, but they can also affect property values .
• Property taxes: Take a look at the last decade of property taxes for the counties where you’re thinking about touring homes to get an idea of how your property taxes may change over time. Increases in property taxes may not be a bad thing—often, it’s a sign of growth, improvement, and more services and resources for residents. Just be sure to consider the costs in your budget .
• Neighborhood and surrounding areas: Do your research to learn about overall livability ratings for categories like crime, amenities, and walkability. Consider driving around any areas you’re considering to see how well-kept homes, streets, and local parks are.
• Future zoning and infrastructure: Ask your real estate agent and/or the listing agent what they can tell you about any major changes planned for the area. Are there major development or infrastructure projects planned? New developments can mean increased traffic, but they might also mean increased property values.

Considering these location factors can help give you a clearer picture of where you’ll want to live.

Tips for touring a home

Now that you have nailed down some important criteria for finding the perfect home, it’s time to start seeing some properties.

A home tour is your best chance to ask questions and see if the property fits your needs. Here are some important things to think about as you’re touring homes:

What to consider during the home tour

Structural condition, utilities, and HVAC

As you walk through a house, keep an eye out for any major cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Structural damage, roofing, and HVAC systems are expensive fixes, so don’t be afraid to ask about any significant issues or renovations that may have occurred.

Water damage and smells

Look out for signs of water damage or mold, which may indicate a moisture problem. Water damage can lead to significant structural problems and can be very difficult (and expensive) to fix. You’ll also want to take notice of any strong odors from smoke or pet urine, which can be persistent and difficult to remove entirely.

Storage space

You’ll likely notice if there are plenty of closets, cabinets, and other storage areas, but it can be easy to overlook their absence. If you’ll need to add dressers or other storage, they can take up significant space in a room, so it’s good to keep in mind when you’re visualizing how you’ll use a space.

Homes in a city or downtown area may not always come with designated parking spots. If you commute or otherwise use your car often, you’ll want to find out what the parking situation is like and if there’s street parking or other parking options available. Parking can get competitive quickly in more densely populated areas. On the other hand, neighborhoods with ample parking may have regulations about street parking which is something to consider if you like to entertain.

Don’t get caught up on the small things

It’s easy to get distracted by dated appliances, paint or wallpaper that doesn’t match your taste, and other cosmetic details. Keep in mind that many of the things that will catch your eye during a home tour are fairly simple and relatively inexpensive to change. The bones of the house and utility systems are far more important to consider for the long term than the shag carpeting that can be easily removed.

Update your must-haves

As you visit more homes, you might find new things you’re willing to compromise. Don't be afraid to update your wants and needs as you go. You may decide that you can’t deal with a small kitchen afterall, and that’s okay. Touring homes is a learning experience.

What happens next?

Whether it takes one house tour or dozens, there’s no doubt that finding “the one” is an exciting experience.

Before you jump into an offer, take time to review your wants and needs list. If you can, walk the area during different times of day to get a sense of traffic, lighting, and noise. If you have the opportunity, talk to your potential neighbors to introduce yourself and ask questions about the area.

You’ll also want to make sure “the one” works with your budget. While the asking price might fit into your pre-approved limit, there are other factors that can affect affordability like homeowners association fees, homeowners insurance, taxes, and utilities.

When you’re ready to put in an offer, talk to your real estate agent to see if there are other contenders and what those offers might look like. Asking about recent sales of comparable homes (comps, for short) can give you an idea of how competitive the market is in that area. Your real estate agent can help you answer any questions and submit a competitive offer .

Ready to start your home-touring journey? Get pre-approved for a mortgage today, so you’ll be ready to put in an offer when the perfect house comes along.

Frequently Asked Questions About Touring a Home

Question: How should I prepare before touring homes? Answer: Before touring homes, it's essential to understand what you can afford. Use a mortgage affordability calculator to get an idea of your budget. Additionally, obtaining a pre-approval letter can provide a more accurate estimate of how much you can borrow and add leverage to your offers.

Question: What's the difference between an open house and a private tour? Answer: An open house is an open invitation for anyone to inspect a home during set hours, usually with a listing agent present to answer questions. A private tour is arranged with the listing agent or your real estate agent, allowing for a more detailed inspection and questions.

Question: How do I differentiate between my "needs" and "wants" when looking for a home? Answer: Your "needs" are essential features that accommodate your family, work, or lifestyle, such as the number of bedrooms. "Wants" are nice-to-have features like new appliances or a fireplace, which you could live without. Consider whether a feature is easy and affordable to change after moving in to help differentiate between the two.

Question: Why is location important when choosing a home? Answer: Location can significantly impact a home's appreciation and your comfort living there. Consider your lifestyle preferences, school districts, property taxes, and the neighborhood's overall livability. Future zoning and infrastructure changes can also affect the area's desirability.

Question: What should I pay attention to during a home tour? Answer: Look for signs of structural damage, water damage, or mold, as these can be costly to fix. Assess the storage space, parking situation, and don't get too caught up in minor cosmetic details that can be changed easily. Focus on the home's overall condition and utility systems.

Question: Can I update my list of "needs" and "wants" after touring homes? Answer: Absolutely. Touring homes is a learning experience, and you may discover new preferences or deal-breakers. Don't hesitate to update your list as you gain more insight into what you're looking for in a home.

Question: What steps should I take after finding a home I'm interested in? Answer: Review your wants and needs list and consider the home's affordability, including additional costs like homeowners association fees and taxes. Walk the area at different times to gauge traffic and noise, and talk to potential neighbors. Consult with your real estate agent about the market and submitting a competitive offer.

Question: How can I ensure my offer stands out in a competitive market? Answer: A verified approval letter can make your offer more attractive. Discuss with your real estate agent about the competition and how recent sales of comparable homes may influence your offer. Your agent can guide you in crafting a competitive offer that aligns with market conditions.

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Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC.

From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. Spend the day with us!

Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.

Need primary and secondary sources, videos, or interactives? Explore our Education Pages!

The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.

Plan Your Visit to Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is the historic home of America's first president, George Washington, just a short drive from Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA.

General admission includes one-day admittance to the Mount Vernon estate and an audio tour. While we recommend at least three hours for your visit, shorter visits are also possible.

Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Today's Hours

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The Mansion

Upper Garden

Washington's Tomb

Lower Garden

Slave Memorial

Front Parlor

Slave Quarters

Spinning House

• Due to ongoing preservation work, the Mansion's New Room is not on display.
• In August, the New Room, Servants’ Hall, and Kitchen will be open. All other rooms in the Mansion will be off-view.

Education Center

• From July 8, 2024 through 2025, the Education Center exhibit on George Washington’s life will be closed for an extensive rebuild.
• The museum exhibit Mount Vernon: Story of An American Icon , located next to the Education Center, remains open.

Mansion Preservation Work

Education Center Closure

Welcome to George Washington's Mount Vernon

Preservation Work

We have embarked upon our landmark Mansion Revitalization project! During your visit, you may see our Preservation teams restoring the framing, masonry, and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring our first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come.

Individual rooms will be taken off display as work progresses through the house.

Beginning January 2024, the New Room will not be on view.

Grounds Pass

Scroll through to view the attractions included with your grounds pass.

Historic Area & Outbuildings

Forest Trail

The Education Center

Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon

The Shops at Mount Vernon

The Inn at Mount Vernon

The Distillery & Gristmill

There’s so much to see and do at George Washington’s estate that you can spend a whole day here.

Your grounds pass provides access to:

• the historic area
• outbuildings
• exhibits in the Education Center (Some objects, including George Washington's dentures, are not currently on display.)
• the museum exhibit Mount Vernon: An American Icon
• Distillery & Gristmill (April - October, Saturday & Sunday)

VIEW Things to Do

Mansion Tour

Step into the home that George Washington shared with his wife, Martha.

Tours currently require a timed tour ticket. 

The Mansion will be closed Jan. 23 – Feb. 5. The grounds remain open.

Reserve Your Tour Online

Mansion tour tickets are available online or at the gate.

We recommend reserving in advance online to receive your desired tour time. On busy days, including on weekends, the first available Mansion tour may be 2 hours or more after your arrival.

Private Tours

Enjoy an exclusive private tour with your own guide. 

Private tours of Mount Vernon enable guests to receive a more personalized experience, customized based on your interest with an expert guide. 

Face Coverings

Face coverings are not required for visitation. Guests are welcome to wear masks based on their personal comfort.

East Front Preservation

The East Front, the side of the Mansion facing the Potomac River, will be covered in scaffolding from March 21, 2022 through April 2023.

Scaffolding is on the East Front only; the West Front of the Mansion remains uncovered.

Visitors to Mount Vernon will see a rare sight: the original siding boards of the Mansion in their unpainted form, just as they were when the Mansion was constructed.

Mount Vernon is easily accessible by car, and parking is free.

You can also reach us by public transportation, via boat cruise , or  bike  (bike rentals are available).

Our Street Address

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA 22121

Hours & Directions

Bike to Mount Vernon

Bike from Alexandria, VA to Mount Vernon. Bike rentals are available from our partners in Alexandria. 

visiting by bike

Where to Eat

Enjoy classic American favorites in a colonial-inspired setting at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, or grab a quick meal at the Food Court.

The Food Pavillion will be closed Jan. 29-Feb. 2.

Dining options

International Visitors

Mount Vernon publishes printed maps and guides to the estate in eleven languages.

Audio tours are available in five languages.

Private tours in select languages can be arranged in advance.

To better prepare you for your visit we have created the following video that outlines some of our new procedures.

Mount Vernon Official Visitation Guide

See what awaits you at George Washington's estate.

Reserve Your Tickets Online

Buy online to reserve your spot.

"We loved our day at Mount Vernon! It was the highlight of our DC trip. The whole family said this was their favorite place we visited." - TripAdvisor Review

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Mount Vernon is located in northern Virginia, just a short drive from Washington, D.C.

For more information about things to do in Virginia, visit Virginia.org , the official tourism website for the state of Virginia. You’ll find an overview of each region in Virginia, as well as information about cultural attractions, museums, upcoming events, and where to stay. You can also purchase merchandise featuring the official Virginia slogan, “Virginia is for Lovers.”

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2021 Christmas Home Tour – My Home

I am so excited, the 2021 Christmas Home Tours are here.  35 homes over the next 5 days sharing their beautiful Christmas Decor.  Today I am thrilled to start off the tours with the 2021 Christmas Home Tour – My Home.  Be sure to see all 6 other homes on today’s tour at the end of the post.

I love how the light looks in our living room right before the blue hour.  It just seems to capture a different feeling for the entire room.

The flocked tree is a nice change and I am loving the white, silver and copper ornaments.  (I think I put it on too tall of a box, so next time I will put it on something a little shorter)  I opted to use up all the gift bags I had in my stash instead of buying new wrapping.  Same with all the decorations this year, all leftover from previous seasons.

Mixing different balls and ribbons on the tree is my favorite thing.  I love shiny, frosted, and glittered.  A mix of ribbons is also a favorite way to add interest.  The doves have been added to all of my trees throughout the years, they are getting really old, but I love them.

I love my sock reindeer, they hold court in this corner nicely beside a burlap and feather tree.

On the coffee table, I have my favorite Santa and an assortment of trees.  One of his reindeer is taking a rest.

On the entry wall opposite the sofa, I created a small vignette on the console.

My favorite view of our home is the one you get when you walk in the door.  I love how you can see upstairs and all the way through to the back of the house.  The garland adds tons of sparkle to some really blank walls.

The dining area is nestled in the corner of the staircase.  I usually use my Nativity as the centerpiece so we can all enjoy the reason for the season.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I always love sharing the 2021 Christmas Home Tour – My Home version with you.

If you missed my earlier Christmas Tours, you can catch up here.

Easy Christmas Entry Decor                                                       2021 Holiday Home – Kitchen/Laundry

2021 Holiday Home – Master Bedroom                                             Girl/Cave Office Christmas 

Now be sure to see the other 6 homes on today’s tour.  Each home is so beautifully decorated with each ladies unique and wonderful style.

Up to Date Interiors – Kathy has lived all over the world and decorates her home with beautiful international flair.

Our Southern Home – Christy’s beautiful traditional southern home is always decked out from top to bottom with stunning elegant decor.

Southern Hospitality –  Rhoda has transformed every inch of her home with gorgeous DIY projects and decorated every inch to perfection.

This Is Our Bliss – Rachael’s home is filled with her classy updated Transitional style.  Tons of inspiration here.

Southern State of Mind .  Heather shares her Traditional Decor and highlights her amazing collection Nut Crackers.

Inspiration For Moms – Laura’s home is always filled with tons of inspiration and I love that she shares so many step-by-step details with us.

Don’t miss any of the tours all week long.  Here are the links for the entire week.

Monday Dec 6th

A Stroll Thru Life – Up To Date Interiors – Our Southern Home – Southern Hospitality

This Is Our Bliss – Southern State of Mind – Inspiration For Moms

Tuesday December 7th

Making it in the Mountains – Decor to Adore – Pink Peppermint Design – Thrifty and Chic

Cuckoo4Design – White Arrows Home – Hymns and Verses

Wednesday December 8th

StoneGable – Whispering Pines Homestead – Worthing Court – Grace In My Space

DIY Beautify – Remodelando la Casa – LeCultivateur

Thursday December 9th

Designing Vibes – The Stonybrook House – A Pretty Life – Calypso in the Country

Clean and Scentsible – 11 Magnolia Lane – Chalking Up Success

Friday December 10th

Fox Hollow Cottage – Follow The Yellow Brick Home – Casa Watkins Living – Quarters One 

Noting Grace – CitrineLiving – County Road 407

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Friday diy & finds, 2023 summer home tour – virtual tour, family favorite 10 bean & ham soup, master bath decor & refresh, 25 comments.

Miss Marty your home looks stunning! I really like the smaller tree in the front room. It is magical. Thank you so much for hosting!

Marty, your home looks so beautiful all dressed up for Christmas! Your tree is just stunning and I love those sweater reindeer! Thanks for hosting this wonderful blog hop! Cheers! Shelley

Love the chocolate, silver, and cream combo. It loos so elegant and pretty. Thanks so much for having me on the tours again this year Marty and thank you for organizing. Merry Christmas!

I think we are on the same wavelength this year with the flocked trees. I love how you added pops of copper to yours. Gah…the lighting in your house is always so beautiful. Merry Christmas, Marty!

Beautiful as always, Marty! I love your flocked tree and gorgeous garlands! Thanks for hosting our Christmas home tour!

So pretty, Marty! I love all of the copper accents and neutrals this year!

Marty, I always love your timeless decor! And that Christmas this year is a beaut!!

Such a beautiful tour, Marty! Thank you so much for being such a fabulous host! Wishing you a beautiful Christmas!

Marty, your home shines with this gorgeous color combo! Love this small tree, the sparkly garland all the way up and the nativity on the table, so cute! Thanks for organizing us once again in a week of beautiful Christmas decor!

It’s so beautiful Marty! I love the flocked tree this year and your color scheme! The garlands are gorgeous and I love that your Nativity is the centerpiece! Thanks for hosting another gorgeous tour!

Marty, thank you as always for hosting this fun Christmas tour. Your home looks so elegant and sparkly for the holidays. I love your metallics on the tree and how all the neutrals pull it all together. Merry Christmas to you!

What an elegant Christmas tree! And matches the rest of your home decor perfectly!

Your Christmas home is beautiful Marty! I love those little textured ball ornaments and the nativity under the cloche is really pretty. The garland makes the place look so cozy!

You are right, that time of day gives off such a pretty color. Your home is so elegant and inviting Marty. Love the color scheme you chose and how you show off your nativity scene. All gorgeous! Merry Christmas

Marty, so beautiful! I love your magical tree! Thank you for hosting the Christmas tour. Blessings, Lori

I love your Christmas home!!! So very festive and beautiful.

Hi Marty. Your Christmas home looks so stunning this year! Always timeless and always inviting. Merry Christmas!

Your Christmas decor is so elegant and classic, Marty! Just beautiful!

Beautiful decor. Love your color palette with it’s rich colors on the flocked tree. Looks so welcoming. Merry Christmas.

So beautiful, as always Marty! I especially love your tree! Thanks for hosting another great year of home tours.

Your home is so festive and beautiful Marty! I love the chocolate, silver, and cream you decorated with…everything feels so cozy. Thank you for including me on your holiday home tour, it’s an honour! Merry Christmas

Beautiful Marty! I love the color scheme and your gorgeous tree. And I agree – that is is such am amazing view with the garland when you come in the door. Thank-you so much for hosting the tour and Merry Christmas to your and your family!

Those copper ornaments really are so stunning on a flocked tree! Love the smaller one! And you nativity scene under the cloche as a centerpiece is such a lovely idea. Merry Christmas and thank you for hosting!! It was a pleasure to join you 🙂

Absolutely stunning, I always enjoy time spent at your blog. Merry Christmas!

Marty your home is so gorgeous always! I absolutely love your tree and the beautiful rich colors you’ve used, exquisite!!! Thank you so much for a fabulous tour, you are always amazing to tour with! Merry Christmas! xo

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My Small Home Tour and 12 More Small House Tours

Today I'm sharing a small home tour with tons of ideas you can grab and DIY! I see tons of large home tours, and most of them are so stunningly beautiful, but feel very unattainable for most of us. No worries, today I've gotten together with 12 of my blogging friends to show that you don't have to have a large home to have a beautiful home...and you don't have to have a ton of money either. I hope you can grab some inspiration and make some simple changes in your small (or large) home, and really learn to love the home you live in!

I'm so excited that my blog friend, Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife  put this Small House Tour together! She's first up on the tour today, so be sure to check her out after you tour my little house! If you are a first time visitor, I encourage you to take a look at my Home Tips Page while you are here! I share hundreds of DIY Cleaning Solutions and Budget Friendly Home Tips to make life easier!

Next on the home tour will be my friend Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog ...she has the cutest style and is all about organization...you will love her!

I'm going to walk you through the the main floor of our home and show you a few inexpensive DIY ideas along the way. We have talked about moving into a larger home many times through the years, but I honestly love our home and the coziness it provides. I think living in a small home has made our family stay close. Sometimes it's a struggle, and storage can be a real issue, but if you just get a little creative, living in a small home can be amazing! Don't forget to check out all of the other ladies that are sharing their small home tours today and tomorrow! I'll be linking to 5 more today and I'll post links to the other 6 tomorrow.

Let's start in the living room, shall we? This is what you see when you first walk into our home. As you can see, I love whites and blues. I guess if I had to describe my style, it would be thrifted, cottage style...with tons of plants. I have plants EVERYWHERE in our home...a little known fact about me, when I was little, I wanted to be a botanist. I once turned the back room in our home into my laboratory. I dug up every flower, plant and weed I could find and planted them in cups and bowls so I could study them. Needless to say, that didn't pan out, but I still have a strong love for plants.

A few little details about our living room...that huge chalkboard above the mantel used to be a mirror on a dresser. I just painted it and it's been there for a few years now. You can find the tutorial HERE ! The TV console is actually a shelf from Target.

The plant behind my husband's leather chair (which I try to camouflage with a blanket), is a Fiddle Leaf Fig  plant. If you ever read Better Homes and Gardens, then you have probably seen one. I am absolutely in love with them, and have two. The shelf beside the couch is an old whiskey display that my father-in-law brought me a few years ago. I painted it white, and it is one of my favorite pieces in our home. Most of the furniture pieces in our home started out dark or in bad shape, and I have painted them with Chalky Finish Paint . I love chalk based paint...it adheres to furniture with no sanding and really sticks. A little goes along way, so you don't have to spend a ton of money to change the look of a piece of furniture.

I just got these faux paperwhites in the mail yesterday! They are from Magnolia Market (you know, Joanna Gaines shop from the HGTV show, Fixer Upper). They really make it feel like spring!

Our living room leads into our dining area, which is right off of our kitchen. That grey cabinet that you see on the left used to be a cherry wood and glass curio cabinet. I painted it glass and all with Chalky Finish Paint in Relic a few weeks ago so I could store my crockpot, pressure cooker and other kitchen gadgets in there without having to look at them.

There are two more pieces from Magnolia Market in our dining area too. My husband bought me the "Today is a good day for a good day" metal sign for Christmas, and I bought myself the amazing Farmhouse Serving Plank that you see in the middle of our table. I use it to serve dinner on in the evenings, and it's great to use when we have guests over as the world's largest cheeseboard.

This is the view from the living room that shows how our dining space, kitchen and breakfast nook/office are all connected. This is where I spend most of my time. I created a kitchen island using a sideboard that I found at Wayfair. It houses my cookbooks, some fun dishes, our indoor grill and is where I do all of my meal prep when cooking dinner. Since we are super limited on cabinet space, I added hooks to each side to hold my colanders and strainers.

I removed some of our cabinet doors so I could see my dishes. Our kitchen cabinets were originally cherry, and in really rought shape, so I painted them using chalky paint too. The backsplash is actually peel-and-stick faux wood flooring planks that look a lot like our wood floors. I wanted a rustic look, but nothing too permanent. This is the second time I've used this product for a backsplash, and I love it. You can see the tutorial I shares showing how to use them as a backsplash HERE ! It's by far one of my most popular posts!

This is where the business of blogging happens. I LOVE all things aqua, and white of course, so this is my favorite space...it inspires lots of creativity. It can see our patio and back yard from here, and the windows let in a ton of light. And of course...I have plants everywhere! Those hanging planters are from IKEA. I saw them in one of their commercials and had to have them. You can even see the cat food bowl tucked in beside my smaller Fiddle Leaf Fig plant. Just keepin' it real here.

So, that's a quick tour of our little home. You can find our Blue and White Bedroom HERE and our Back Patio HERE !

Now onto some more small house goodness! Be sure to check out the rest of the small home tours below!

Thursday, February 25th

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73 responses to “My Small Home Tour and 12 More Small House Tours”

WOW....loved the tour of your home. Your place looks soooooo fresh and inviting. You are SO CREATIVE. Will be trying the "chalky Paint" on some of my stuff. I have never heard of it before. Who makes it....etc.

Hi, Mickie! Thank you so much for the kind words! The chalky finish paint is made by DecoArt. I use it on EVERYTHING. I've painted tables, shelves, the curio cabinet (including the glass), mirrors, my kitchen cabinets, two of our bathroom cabinets and a few dining chairs. It is amazing! You need to finish it off with DecoArt's Creme Wax to pull out the color and really protect it. Hope this helps! ~Jess

I loved taking the tour of your small house. I also have a small house and have come up with some ideas for storaage, etc., etc., etc. My colors are different, but, still make my rooms look larger.

I love the faux wood backsplash - I would have never thought of that! I think it would even be a good idea as a backdrop for food photo shots.

So crisp, fresh and clean! Great job! Love everything. Now it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor with your family and friends.

Where did you find the white curtains hanging in your blogging space? I LOVE them. You have a beautiful home. I went from a 1,400 sq ft house to a 2,600 sq ft house thinking we "needed more space." We didn't like it; it was terrible to keep clean and we seemed so far away from each other in the same house. We downsized back to an 1,800 sq foot home and I am so happy we did. It is cozier and we seem closer as a family again. It's so weird how the size of a house can do that. Love the home tours!

Hi, Miranda! I bought them at Target! You know, it's funny, we have tons of friends that live in huge homes and they have encouraged us to move "up" as well. When we take a step back, we see the disconnect in some of their families. I feel like everybody just goes off to their own space and you really lose the family closeness. Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Thanks do much for sharing your home! I, too live in a small space...400 square feet to be exact! I love to decorate and have a blue, white, soft turquoise color scheme. Love your grey, too. I've never used the chalky paint but will try it soon. I'm refinishing my cabinets and kitchen arrangement at the moment...have you ever painted your countertops? I have laminate but would love to have the look of marble or granite. Ideas?

I have painted my countertops in the past. We recently had new ones installed after saving up for them. There are tons of countertop paint kits that work really well. I love the one Rustoleum has as Lowe's.

I adore your home! I want to be a landscape architect so I love plants too :) Thank you so much for playing along and being a part of the tour!

Jessica! I love your home! Your office is in the perfect spot! I adore the pop of color! It is great to be on this tour with you!

So pretty and not so perfect that min doesn't instantly wonder what my kid will break. I envy your deeper desk. My goal is to so more of my desk and less electronics very soon. I have this annoying Ooma phone and a ELEPHANT sized black printer taking up my Zen-space. Thanks for opening up your home to all the snoopers in the world including myself.

HI Jessica.

Love the updated backsplash and it is exactly the look I am going for in my bathroom. It looks wonderful in your kitchen. I was wondering if you can share with us the painting technique and colors that you used on the updated kitchen backsplash. I am so anxious to get this project going.

Thanks for sharing.

Would you mind telling people where the updated wood planks are from? It isn't mentioned anywhere in this post.

Hi Jessica.. I'm a 68 year old grandma,living a real small budget. Can't afford anyone to remodel my tiny kitchen. Do have a DYI counter top suggestion? It has to be something I do myself.. Help please.

I love the vinyl backsplash idea so much! I saw it on Pinterest and Remodelaholic and just posted a blog about how I wanted to tackle it this weekend for my bathroom! I was thinking about trying to get a white washed look but not sure if I can achieve that on vinyl? But I also love your updated version and the color you used! Now I'm even more excited to attempt this! Curious how your chalk paint is holding up in your kitchen? I've been contemplating it but read different reviews.

Hi, Valerie! The chalk paint really held up. The key is to make sure you either wax it at the end or add a coat or two of polyurethane. Hope this helps! xoxo Jess

I love your casita!!!!!! Did you use the planks behind the stove too? I’m afraid it will melt.

For the peel and stick flooring used as the kitchen backsplash, how hard was it to remove them when you wanted to replace them? Did it do much damage to the wall?

They were really easy to remove, and other than pulling a little paint off, there wasn't much damage at all. I changed it out to a different peel and stick last year and it was pretty easy.

Love your back splash! I'm curious about the house you have your bananas and canisters in. Is it glass or just open? Where did you find that?

Thanks, Anne! It's a terrarium that I bought at IKEA years ago. I took out the side panels at one point and used it to house my canisters and bananas.

I based my whole kitchen remodel off that yellow, gray, tourquise fabric at our old house because of your kitchen, lol

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Parade Of Homes: Fall Home Tours Across The Web

This parade of homes is a little different from the traditional one.

Instead of traveling by car to swoon over beautifully decorated homes, this parade of homes can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. You can veg out in your favorite chair, wearing your pajamas while touring the homes in this parade. To me, a parade of homes like this sounds heavenly.

There are no worries about what to wear and you don’t have to put on makeup. You get to see beautiful homes decorated for  fall without going anywhere. This parade of homes is more my jam and I am so happy that Kendra, from Joy In Our Home asked me to be a part of it.

This parade of homes is brought to you by a group of talented bloggers who have been working diligently to get their homes decorated for fall. You can find all of the homes in this parade at the end of this post.   

For me, fall decorating has taken me a lot longer this year. I got rid of so much fall decor. I took my time because I wanted to make a change in our living room. Things would come together, but I didn’t want to rush it. I love adding new pieces and accents in our home and when we do that, I always get more excited to decorate. My fall decor started with the wood fireplace mantel we added to the living room.

This addition has been so exciting for me! Not only did I paint it my favorite color, but it gave me another area to decorate. You won’t believe how much the mantel cost, what came with it and what it looked like when we bought it. Find all the juicy details about the entire mantel project HERE . 

{Affiliate links are used in this post. You can read my disclosure  HERE .}

To make the living room feel more cozy and welcoming for fall, I added throw blankets and beautiful fall pillows.

Being grateful is not a seasonal thing. It is something that needs to be in our hearts and on our minds all year round so this pillow is not seasonal to me. It is something we need to think about 365 days of the year. 

We took out the gray dresser that has been in the living room for so long and replaced it with a dresser we found at a thrift store.

I LOVE this new addition. The wood color is perfection and I think it fits the corner perfectly. 

I have had a stash of old, land surveyor’s measuring tools in our garage for a long time. The color on them and all the numbers made them something I had to have. I have wanted a place to put them for so long. When we moved the new dresser in, Matt hung them behind it and they look amazing for fall! 

Of course the hutch got a fall overhaul as well. I shared exactly how I decorated these shelves from start to finish on my Instagram stories (you can find me on Instagram HERE ). 

I added some fall touches to the green side table in our living room. Matt made some wood houses for me and I added those to the mantel in the living room. (To keep things real, I have already moved those wood houses because I wasn’t so sure about them on the faux mantel). Things are always changing around here. 🙂

I added a fun, little vignette in our back porch. I am still working on the porch so I couldn’t share it in this parade of homes. We spend so much time in our porch during the fall that I can’t fill it with a ton of decor. It needs to be a space for tailgating and watching football games. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Our home is ready for fall. We are ready to welcome it with open arms and I know things will be changed around many times before the season is over. That’s what I love about decorating. It doesn’t have to be permanent. You can change it any time to get exactly what you love.

I hope this parade of homes has inspired you to get ready for fall. You don’t want to miss any of the tours below. You will love them all!

Happy parading, friends!

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Make sure to head over to all of my friends’ beautiful homes inside this fall parade of homes. There are so many beautiful ideas I see in this tour:

Little House of Four | We Lived Happily Ever After

Twelve On Main | Unskinny Boppy  

Little Home Reloved | Craving Some Creativity  

Aratari At Home | A Blue Nest  

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Furniture flipping success through smart goal setting, furniture flipping business tips, how to become a full-time furniture flipper, you may also like, diy pumpkin projects to decorate your home for fall, 10 fall decor items to buy at the thrift store, 16 cozy fall decor items for your home, 20 comments.

Everything looks so perfectly cozy Lindsey! LOVE the pops of green with the fireplace and table and the new dresser is beautiful!

Green is my love language. Always has been. Every season needs it around. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by!

I love the pops of green in your decor, especially the mantel! That’s gorgeous. And those surveyor tools are such a great find. Everything looks so charming and cozy.

Thank you Angie! So happy you stopped by!

Your home looks so great, Lindsay! I especially love how you decorated your tiered tray stand.

Thank you Rachel!

Loved this tour. Your home is lovely. We seem to like the same type dressers and hutches. I think we have the same two! Happy Fall

I love old dressers and hutches! I am always picking them up when I find them! Thank you for stopping by!

Simply beautiful! I love all your vintage goodies and I am obsessed with that little green side table!

Thank you so much! That table was a great find, but the paint really made it a new piece!

Just swooning over all your cozy fall touches! Love your hutch! So glad to be touring with you!

I love your name and it is even spelled the same! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Your whole home is just gorgeous, Kristi! Be careful because that harvest pillow might go missing one day….just sayin’. winkwink

Did I really just call you Kristi?!?!?! I’m so sorry. I know that you’re Lindsay! That’s what I get for trying to do too many things at once!

No worries!!! Thank you!

That Harvest pillow is so good! Lisa does such great work!

Lindsay, you really rock Fall decor! And I suddenly feel like I need some surveyor tools in my life!

Thank you! I love those tools! 🙂

Everything is styled so beautifully, Lindsay! I love the mix of colors that you used.

Thank you Jordan!

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Home Buyers Reveal: ‘What I Wish I Had Known Before Buying My First Home’

Love. Terror. Giddiness. Teeth-gnashing desperation. Buying your first home involves all these emotions, and more. And like so many other milestones in life, you won’t fully understand it until  you  go through the process yourself.

In an effort to clue you into some of the challenges you’ll face as a first-time home buyer, we asked some folks who’ve already gone through the wringer to spill what they wish they’d known earlier that would have saved them a ton of time, effort, and tears. Here’s to hoping their 20/20 hindsight will help pave your own path to homeownership.

First-time homebuyers: even if a home looks ‘perfect,’ it has problems

First-time home buyer  Hunt Ethridge  fell hard for a recently renovated house in Jersey City, NJ, which looked like it was in absolutely perfect condition. What could go wrong?

The  home inspection , that’s what.

“My home inspector found a laundry list of issues,” Ethridge says. “He pointed out that the hardwood floor had been lacquered without sweeping, so dirt was sealed into it. Kitchen appliances were broken. Some windows were missing caulking. Worst of all was an old underground oil tank.”

After recovering from his shock, Ethridge used this info to renegotiate a lower price with the home sellers. He is grateful he didn’t pass on the home inspection and urges all home buyers to never skip this step.

“The last thing you want to discover  after  you buy is a major problem that could have been identified early on,” he says.

The takeaway:  No matter how nice a home looks, a home inspection is the only way to make sure you aren’t buying a lemon, says  Jane Peters , broker and owner of Home Jane Realty in Los Angeles. “You don’t have to ask the home seller to make repairs,” she adds, “but you do need to know whether you should proceed with the purchase or not.”

First-time homebuyers: step away from the computer

Jonathan Cooper  and his wife had a baby on the way, so they were ready and raring to buy their first home in Royersford, PA. They spent hours scrolling through real estate listings and Googling questions such as “ how much home can I afford ?”

This was all well and good, but at some point, a mortgage broker gave him some sage advice: “Stop Googling, move away from the computer and into the real world.”

Sure, online surfing and research serve a purpose, but if you’re serious about buying a home, “it’s not until you get  pre-approved for a mortgage  that the home-buying process gets real,” Cooper points out.

The takeaway:  “You can’t get pre-approved by plugging in simple numbers on a mortgage calculator ,” Peters says. “You need an experienced lender who will take a detailed history and require documentation of your assets and income. This is the only way you’ll establish if you qualify for a  mortgage  and for how much.”

First-time homebuyers: Never miss a deadline

When  Steven Mingilton  and his brother found the perfect  condo  in Denver and their offer was accepted, they wanted to celebrate. However, their lender informed them that the closing process would take about two months. “And within those 60 days, we had a hefty to-do list,” Mingilton says.

Mingilton and his brother struggled to keep up with the copious paperwork and nearly missed an essential appointment to complete their loan.

“We had to beg and plead our case,” Mingilton remembers. “Thankfully, we were able to hustle and finalize.”

The takeaway:  “Buying a home requires you to stay on top of your to-do items, especially during the  escrow  process where there may be penalties for missing a deadline,” says Peters. “Prime among this is the three-day requirement to send in your deposit. Miss that and you may miss out on the deal.”

First-time homebuyers: choose a lender you like

Newbie home buyer  Aaron Norris  loved the real estate agent who helped him find his Riverside, CA, residence, but his lender was a “total jerk.”

“I couldn’t believe how disengaged and unprofessional he was,” Norris recalls. “He wouldn’t return emails or phone calls in a timely manner. He dragged his feet on a transaction that required speed, and he simply did not communicate.”

Although everything worked out OK in the end, he regrets not shopping for a lender he liked: “I felt like I was working for him and that he was not on my team.”

The takeaway:  “A lender can make or break a deal, so choose wisely,” says Peters. “One of the main things to look for besides the loan rate is the responsiveness of the lender. They need to move fast or the deal may fail.”

Here are some  questions to ask mortgage lenders  to help you decide which one is right for you.

First-time homebuyers: summon reserves of patience

While hunting for their first home in Omaha, NB,  Jordan Bath  and her partner put in several offers on different properties—all of which fell through.

“At the time, it was a major disappointment,” she recalls. Their real estate agent kept advising them to be patient. Sure enough, after a year of losing out on properties, the perfect home fell into their laps.

“Our agent overheard a contractor mention he was doing work on a house in our dream neighborhood,” Bath recalls. “She asked him for the address and seller’s information, and we were able to purchase the house without it ever hitting the market.”

Now, Bath says, they can look back at those frustrating “misses” and realize “they weren’t meant to be.”

The takeaway:  It’s tough not to get disheartened while house hunting, says Peters. “Competition is fierce, and you need to prepare yourself for the long haul.”

You may need to adjust your criteria so more possibilities are opened up. In the meantime, “keep making those offers,” Peters says. “One of them will get accepted.”

Stephanie Booth's stories have appeared in magazines such as Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Psychology Today.

Twitter Follow @stephanieBbarth

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9 places to nosh on bagels in southern Maine

From old-school spots to foodie favorites, there's a 'hole' lot to try.

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Bread and bagels at The Works Cafe in downtown Portland. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

From New York-style boiled bagels to Montreal-inspired wood-fired ones, there’s lots of great bagels in southern Maine and several shops have the accolades to back that up.

In 2023, Bon Appetit named bagels from Rose Foods and Rover Bagel among the best in the country.

Two years before that,  Food & Wine Magazine put Rover, Forage and Scratch Baking Co. on its list of best bagels in the U.S.

Whether you like yours toasted with cream cheese or as the bread for your breakfast sandwich, you can find plenty of styles and flavors from Biddeford to Brunswick.

BEACH BAGELS

The offerings at Beach Bagels include a French toast and marble bagel, and the cream cheese menu comprises spreads like strawberry, olive and honey walnut. Along with breakfast sandwiches, Beach Bagels has hearty breakfast options like omelets and pancakes. Best of all, you’re steps away from a beach stroll. Just don’t let the seagulls steal your bagel. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily WHERE: 34 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. beachbagels.yolasite.com ______________

Dutchman’s opened in 2022 as a pop-up housed at Nomad pizza in Brunswick’s Fort Andross building. It’s since become a permanent fixture there and uses the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens to bake its bagels. The hand-shaped, honey-boiled bagels come in plain, roasted garlic, poppy and a bagel-of-the-day flavor.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday WHERE: Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. dutchmans.me ______________

FORAGE MARKET

Making bagels at Forage Market involves a two-day aging process. The bagels are naturally leavened with wild yeast starter and baked next to a hardwood fire. There are usually five flavors available, including sesame and garlic. Breakfast sandwiches (including vegan options) are available. Forage also has a location in Lewiston. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 123 Washington Ave., Portland. foragemarket.com _____________

MISTER BAGEL

There are 10 or so Mister Bagel locations in Maine, including South Portland and Falmouth. It all began with the Portland location, which was the first bagel shop to open in Maine. The late Rick Hartglass started Mister Bagel in 1977, and it is still a family business. Music fans will appreciate the breakfast sandwich menu, which includes The David Bowie (bacon, egg and American cheese), the Jimmy Buffett (egg with roast beef and cheddar) and The Lady Gaga (avocado, salt and pepper, with or without egg).

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland. misterbagelforestave.com ______________

At Rose Foods, the menu varies depending on the day, but there are usually six to eight flavors available. For example, should you pop in on a Friday, you’ll find a poppy and onion bialy (a cousin of the bagel that is not boiled). Rose Foods also makes a number of bagel sandwiches, including the Classic Nova with Nova lox and the Classic Whitefish. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland. rosefoods.me

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ROVER BAGEL

At Rover Bagel, you’ll find wood-fired plain, poppy, sea salt, sesame and everything bagels available most of the time, and the spread game here is strong with cream cheese options like lemon-thyme-honey cream and chili-garlic.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 10 West Point Lane Suite 10-204, Biddeford (Pepperell Mill). roverbagel.com

______________ Advertisement

SCRATCH BAKING CO.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the line of devoted fans waiting for Scratch Baking Co. to open, especially on weekend mornings. Along with the popular Maine sea salt, plain and other everyday flavors, Scratch has a daily special bagel. There’s honeyed rosemary on Wednesday and jalapeno cheddar on Thursday. Scratch is also famous, at least to locals, for its P-Cheese spread. It’s a pimento cheese recipe made with cheddar, mayo, roasted red peppers and seasoning and was passed down to co-owner and head baker Allison Reid by her grandmother, Mern.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 416 Preble St., South Portland. scratchbakingco.com ___________

THE MAINE BAGEL

The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach. The Maine Bagel really shines with a dozen kinds of cream cheese spreads, including raisin-walnut, lox, strawberry, cranberry-nut and bacon-chive.

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: 117 Route 1, Scarborough. themainebagel.com Advertisement

THE WORKS CAFE

The Works Cafe is an institution on the edge of the Portland’s Old Port. It opened in 1990 as Bagel Works before it changed its name in 2002. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The menu also has bowls, sandwiches and smoothies.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily WHERE: 15 Temple St., Portland. workscafe.com

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