What to Ask on a Video Tour Before You Book an In-Person One

A good video tour should do more than show you the unit — it should answer the questions that would otherwise waste an in-person visit if the answer turns out to be a dealbreaker.

"Can you show me the water pressure and check the outlets?" Photos and even video walkthroughs skip this by default. Asking specifically gets you real information a static listing never shows.

"What does the noise sound like at different times of day?" A landlord can't fully answer this on command, but asking shows you're serious and sometimes prompts an honest "it's a busy street" answer you wouldn't otherwise get.

"Is this the exact unit, or a similar unit in the building?" Worth asking directly — some listings show a "similar" unit rather than the actual one you'd be renting, and layouts can differ more than expected within the same building.

"What's included versus what I'd need to set up myself?" Utilities, internet, parking, laundry — get the specific list on the call, not assumed from the listing description.

"Why is the current tenant moving out?" Not always answerable, but when it is, it's genuinely useful information about the building or landlord.

When to skip straight to in-person: if the video tour answers all of this well and the unit fits your criteria, you're touring in person to confirm, not to discover — a much better use of the trip.

Tell Nova what you're looking for and it can help line up tours once a listing clears your basics.