Control the marathon: How to efficiently view multiple houses

Buying a home is often described as a journey, but in the middle of the process, it can feel more like an exciting endurance test. According to industry data, the average homebuyer views around nine homes before finding “the one.” In a competitive real estate market, the ability to view multiple houses in one afternoon is not only convenient, but also a strategic advantage.

However, viewing multiple houses without a plan leads to “viewing fatigue”, a phenomenon where every kitchen island and bedroom with private bathroom slowly fades into a vague, unrecognisable memory. To find your dream home without going crazy, you need a system that prioritizes logistics, technology, and sensory perception. Here you can read how to view multiple houses as efficiently as possible.

The pre-flight check: Virtual screening

The most efficient viewing is the one you don't have to do. Even before you turn the key in the ignition, you must have ruthlessly shortened your list.

• Check assets: Look beyond the main photos. Explore 3D virtual tours and floor plans. In 2026, many ads included “behind-the-walls” digital twins, which allow you to see the location of the central heating system, air conditioning, and pipework before you visit the property.
• Google street view is your best friend: Check out the surrounding neighborhood. Is there a loading and unloading area across the street? Is the neighbor's garden a cemetery for old machines? Five minutes of digital research can save you an hour of lost travel time.
• Plan the commute route: Use navigation tools to see what traffic looks like during your actual travel times, not just on the quiet Sunday morning of your viewing.

Strategic planning: The “Cluster” method

Efficiency comes from smart logistics. When you look at five homes, the order determines whether your day will be a smooth experience or a stressful race against the clock.

• Geographic clustering: Work with your realtor to group homes by neighborhood. You should spend more time in houses and less time in front of red traffic lights.
• The 45-minute window: A standard viewing takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. By adding 15 minutes for travel time and run-out (“buffer time”), you create a rhythm of 45 minutes. Don't clutter up your day; viewing more than five to seven homes in one day is the tipping point where the quality of your decision-making starts to decline.
• Start with the “Wildcard”: If there is a home that you have moderate feelings about but are curious about, put it first on the list. That's what you've had while your energy level is still high. Save the homes you're most excited about for the middle of the tour, when your “comparative brain” is fully on.

The viewing toolkit: Stay organized

To prevent all houses from “merging” in your head, you need a standardized way to capture data.

• The one photo rule: When you enter each house, take a photo of the house number or brochure first. Any subsequent photos or videos you take will then be grouped chronologically under that specific home in your phone's gallery.
• The “Deal-breaker” checklist: Create a simple table. Give each home a rating of 1 to 10 based on your hard requirements: natural light, storage, noise level and “vibe”.
• Voice memos: As soon as you get into the car, leave a 30-second memo as soon as you leave the house. Your unsalted, unfiltered response (“The kitchen felt cramped but the backyard was great”) is often more valuable than a detailed list of measurements that you won't see until two days later.

Advanced observing: Look beyond styling

Salespeople are masters of “sensory marketing”. They bake cookies, play soft jazz, and use mirrors to make small rooms look palatial. To be efficient, you need to train your eyes to see through the styling.

• The corner test: Stand in the corner of the main living space. This perspective gives you a good view of the “Flow” of the house: how the kitchen connects to the dining room and how the walking routes run through the room.
• Check out the “Unglamorous” systems: Don't just stare at quartz counters. Look at the age of the boiler, the condition of the group cabinet and the condition of the window frames and sealants. By asking your broker about the age of the roof and the central heating system during the tour, you can immediately eliminate “DIY homes” that are too expensive.
• The “Light-out” strategy: When all the lights are on throughout the house, turn off a few. This way, you can see the actual light coming into the room. Similarly, turn off the background music to listen to ambient noise or equipment humming.

Managing the human factor

When viewing with a partner or family, efficiency can quickly be lost due to conflicting opinions or tired children.

• Divide and conquer: Do you work as a couple? Distribute the roles. One focuses on the technical aspects (basement, attic, installations), while the other pays attention to the quality of life (layout, light, functionality of the kitchen).
• The “Waste race” game: Only compare each house with the current “leader” afterwards. If house No. 3 is better than house No. 1 and No. 2, the latter two go directly off the list. You should only have one “best” home in your head at any given time.
• Wear the “Uniform”: Put on slip-on shoes. When you visit seven houses, you have to put on and take off your shoes 14 times. It sounds insignificant, but the time and physical effort you save by not tying shoes at every threshold adds up during a long afternoon.

The debriefing after the tour

The most important part of an efficient day takes place in the 30 minutes after the last home.

• The immediate top three: Before you go home and get distracted by eating or doing household chores, sit in a coffee shop or car to pick your top three. Immediately remove the photos and links of anything that didn't make the selection.
• Rank by “Total cost of ownership”: Don't just look at the asking price. Rank your favorites based on the estimated costs for repairs or updates you've spotted. A €500,000 house that needs a new €20,000 roof is more expensive than a €515,000 ready-to-move in house.

Finding your home with data and intuition

Property viewing efficiency isn't about rushing; it's about clarity. By using technology to screen homes, cluster your route geographically, and maintain a disciplined annotation system, you're turning a chaotic process into a professional evaluation.