What the photographs cannot tell you.

Pay attention to the transitions.

Look at the route from parking to the door, from kitchen to table, and from bedrooms to shared spaces. A wide-angle photograph can show a whole room while making the distance between things difficult to judge. Bring measurements for furniture you intend to keep.

Spend a moment in each room without talking. Notice light, sounds, odors and visible signs of past repairs. Ask questions rather than diagnosing a building from appearances. A qualified inspector can investigate issues that a visit cannot settle.

See the outdoor space in context.

Look beyond the crop of the photograph. Consider neighboring buildings, slopes, gutters, tree limbs and where water might travel. Ask for available records and evaluate them with appropriate expertise.

Make a useful second-visit list.

Afterward, separate preferences from unknowns. A paint color is a preference. An unexplained stain is an unknown. Bring the important unknowns back to the conversation before you let a beautiful image decide for you.