Guides to running a house search

Written for the parts of buying a house that nobody hands you instructions for: what to write down, what to look at in a basement, how to choose between two places you both like, and how to do any of it with another person without it becoming an argument.

• 01How to keep track of the houses you are seeingThe tabs, the group chat and the camera roll stop working around the fifth viewing. What to record for every place, where to keep it, and how to keep it honest.Why tabs and the group chat stop workingThe seven things worth writing downWhere to keep itFour habits that keep the record honestand 1 more5 sections · 5 minute read
• 02What to look for at a house viewingA viewing checklist for Toronto and the GTA: the outside, the basement, the wiring and plumbing that cost money, and the condo questions to ask before you offer.Ten minutes before you leaveStart outside, before you go inThe basement is the expensive roomWiring, plumbing, and what is rentedand 3 more7 sections · 7 minute read
• 03How to compare two houses when you like bothSeparate what is fixed from what is fixable, compare the monthly cost instead of the asking price, and rank the shortlist before you discuss it with anybody.Sort everything into fixed and fixableCompare the monthly cost, not the asking pricePut them in columns and force a rankWhen the two of you rank them differentlyand 1 more5 sections · 4 minute read
• 04How to plan a day of house viewingsBooking, routing and note taking for a Saturday of showings in the GTA, including how many to book and what to write in the two minutes between houses.How many to bookGroup by geography, not by preferenceBooking the showingsWhat to bringand 2 more6 sections · 4 minute read
• 05How to house hunt with your partnerAgree the brief before the listings, separate the two arguments you are actually having, rate places independently, and keep the notes you would not say out loud.Agree the brief before you look at anythingYou are having two arguments, so stop mixing themRate independently, then compareKeep the notes you would not say out loudand 2 more6 sections · 5 minute read