Have you heard that if you bake a loaf of bread before someone views your home, they will be more likely to buy it?

It's all based on the idea that creating a homey smell will encourage the potential buyer to want to live in the house. This is the same as staging a home, putting out fresh flowers and painting your walls to make the home appear larger.

And the fact is, that many times these things work. But buyers should be looking for something more in a home, not just the five-minute tour appearance.

Most agents will advise their clients to visualize a house empty. Personally, I've never even given someone's personal decor any thought when considering a home for my own. I don't care if they have tacky bedroom linens. I'm not buying those, I'm buying the house.

As a potential buyer, you need to look at the actual home, not all the trappings. Look at the number of bedrooms, the age of the home and improvements, the square footage and major appliances. You aren't looking for the good when you tour a home, your looking for the bad.

Ask questions. Take the time to really see the home and how your family would use it. Many people spend more time looking for a car than looking for a home. Don't fall in love with the decor of the current owners. Fall in love with the house.

Will the home be big enough for you now and in the future? If you have a lot of parties, you may need a large kitchen and dining area. If you have small children, you may want a family room to keep their mess contained. If you are retirement age, you many not want to buy a home with lots of stairs to climb.

Look at the home from top to bottom. Check out the roof and the flooring. Look for water spots on the ceiling and stains on the linoleum. Ask about the heating and air conditioning. Check to see if the windows are double paned or energy efficient. Turn on the faucets, look in the back of cabinets, flush the toilet and turn on and off every light. Look in the appliances to see how clean they are.

Drive from the home to your work during rush hour. Things could be calm the day of the open house, but that doesn't mean they always are. For example, if it is a few blocks from the local college football field, you may find yourself with lots of cars out front on game day.

Finally, ask to see the home's utility bills. This will let you know what to expect. Let me tell you, there is nothing like buying a home and being thrilled until you get that $200 electric bill. Talk about being angry.

You should also find out how much the property taxes will be on the home. You will need to have an idea of the total cost of living in the home to see if you can afford it.

And no matter what anyone says, have the home inspected by a professional. Don't skip this. It is the most important step in buying a home. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it. Don't risk your money on a house-sized lemon.