Showing kit: one house, every checkGoing to see a house in Northern Virginia? Type the address once. Every check, in order, on your phone.
Before, outside, inside, after: the checks and your notes, in one place.
Seeing a house this weekend?· Broadlands, Loudoun County
Pictures: artist’s renderings of real Northern Virginia places.
The kit
Going to see a house?
1Before you go in
In the car, 2 minutes. Know the price story and the lot before you walk in.
- Quick facts on this houseValue range, recent sales, schools, noise, flood and sun, on one page.Uses the address
- Homes sold within 1 mileWhat the homes around it sold for, so you know if the price is fair.Uses the address
- Fairfax lot checkEasements, stream buffers, soil and zoning on this lot. Fairfax County only.Uses the address
2Walking up to it
Walk around it first. Water and roof trouble shows on the outside before it shows inside.
3Inside the house
Some homes have cameras. Save talk about price and offers for the car.
4After, in the car
Liked it? Drive by again at night and at rush hour, then send me your notes.
Type the address once. Then follow the four steps: each tool that needs the address opens on this house.
Updated October 31, 202621 checks, 10 toolsWorks on any phone, no app
Quick answer
Going to see a house? Type its address once. The kit opens each check on that house, in the order a showing happens: before you go in (quick facts, homes sold within a mile), outside (a noise meter, sun by room), inside (will your furniture fit, how old the water heater and AC are, a 21-point checklist) and after (value, payment, offer). Your checks and notes stay on your phone. No sign-up.
The kit, in six numbers
2026
Counted from the kit on this page, October 31, 2026.
Walk-through
The walk-through checklist.
21 things to look at, room by room, while you are there. Your marks and notes stay on this phone.
No address yet. Your checks go with the house you add above.
Tap ✓ Fine or ? Ask. Tap again to clear. Kept on this phone only.
Outside 0 of 5
Roof: no missing, curling or patched shingles; no sag
Gutters: downspouts carry water a few feet away from the house
Ground: slopes away from the walls; no puddles against them
Siding and trim: no soft wood, cracks or peeling paint
Deck or patio: solid boards, steady railings and stairs
Kitchen 0 of 3
Under the sink: dry, no stains, no musty smell
Cabinets: doors and drawers open and close
Appliances: how old? The label is inside the door or on the back
Bathrooms 0 of 3
Water pressure: run the shower and the sink together
Floor: firm around the toilet and tub, no soft spots
Fan: it works, and the ceiling has no mold
Basement and systems 0 of 4
Basement: no water lines on the walls, white crust or musty smell
Water heater, furnace, AC: how old? Read the labels with the camera tool
Electric panel: breakers labeled, no rust
Sump pump: if there is one: plugged in, with a backup?
Every room 0 of 6
Ceilings and walls: no stains or long cracks
Windows: open, close and lock; no fog between the panes
Light: which rooms get sun, and when
Noise: close the windows and listen: road, rail, planes
Phone signal: strong in the rooms you will work in
Storage: closets and garage, enough for your things
Ask about
- Lines you mark Ask show here.
This checklist is for your visit, not a home inspection. Before you buy, a licensed home inspector checks the house.
Houses on this phone
Questions
What buyers ask about showings.
What should I bring to a showing?
Your phone, charged, with this kit open; the sizes of your biggest furniture; and, if you might make an offer soon, your pre-approval letter. Wear shoes that slip off easily: many sellers ask visitors to take them off or wear covers.
How long is a showing?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes, booked by the agents. If you like the house, a second showing on another day, at another hour, is normal before an offer.
Can I take photos or videos?
Ask your agent first. Many sellers allow photos for your own notes; some do not. The checklist and notes here need no photos.
Are my notes private?
Yes. Your checks, stars and notes stay in this browser on this phone, for the last 12 houses. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you tap Share my notes or Text my notes to Ahmed.
Is this a home inspection?
No. It helps you notice things and ask good questions during a short visit. Before you buy, a licensed home inspector checks the roof, the systems and the structure, and writes a report.
Your next step
Want a second pair of eyes?
Send me the address before or after you see it. I will tell you what the sales around it say and what to look at, in English or Arabic.
اقرأ دليل شمال فرجينيا بالعربية ←
وكيلك العقاري الموثوق في شمال فرجينيا.
Keep exploring
Before and after the showing.
Try a free tool
See all 36 free tools →- Just saw a house? Quick factsType the address of a house you just saw: size, value range, community sales, schools, noise, flood zone and sun on one screen.
- Will my furniture fit?See your sofa, bed or table in your room through your phone's camera, true size. Then check the door and the room.
- How old is this? Water heater, furnace, ACSnap the label on a water heater, furnace, AC or heat pump: the month and year it was made, how long it typically lasts, and what a new one costs.
Keep reading
- ToolMaking an offerHow homes like the one you want sold against asking, in dollars; then escalation, deposit, inspection and appraisal, in plain words.
- ToolFirst-time buyer programsWhich state and county programs fit you: Virginia Housing grants and Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington and Prince William help, 2026 limits.
- CheckAm I ready to buy?Seven taps: a readiness score for timing, money and plan, and your next steps.
- BuyingSingle-family home guideWhat single-family houses sell for in every county and city, which have an HOA and what it costs.