In your tour of each dwelling, you’ll look at a lot of broad, flat surfaces. You’re looking for cracks, stains (an indicator of leaks), and peeling paint.
If you have small children, peeling paint is of medical as well as aesthetic concern because of the danger of lead poisoning (see the final section in this chapter, “Toxic Environments”).
If there’s wallpaper, is it in good condition? Is it a color and style you can live with, or wifi you want to get it off the walls as soon as you take possession?
If there’s wall-to-wall carpeting, can you stand it? Will it last a while, or does it really need immediate replacing?
If there are area rugs, look under them to check the condition of the floors. Look behind paintings as well, to see if they’re covering holes or water stains. I know that doesn’t seem terribly polite, but you’re not trying to win a popularity contest; you’re trying to find out as much as possible about the home you’re considering investing a lot of money in. You should be a lot more concerned about avoiding a costly mistake than about offending the seller. Of course, before yanking back the throw rug, you might first ask, “Do you mind?”