WHEN EVERY HOME HAS A “BUT…”
Compare homes without starting over after every showing.
Choose the same criteria, decide what matters most, then rate each house against those priorities. A scorecard makes the tradeoffs easier to see; the decision is still yours.
1. Separate preferences from dealbreakers
A shorter commute and more storage might be preferences you can weigh. An essential requirement should remain a separate pass-or-fail check. Do not let several nice extras cancel out something you cannot live without.
Keep the comparison specific: “space for two desks” is easier to score consistently than “good vibes.” The vibes may still attend the meeting.
2. Use one rating scale for every home
In PadPickr, you choose your criteria and their importance in Pad Prefs, then rate the homes in Pad Picks. Use 1 for a poor fit, 3 for acceptable and 5 for an excellent fit, with 2 and 4 for the steps between. Your personal leaderboard puts the weighted results on a scale with a perfect score of 300.
If you have not checked a feature, treat it as an open question. A default middle rating should not become an accidental claim that you investigated it.
3. Read the tradeoffs, not just the total
This simplified example uses three criteria and fictional homes. It shows the ratings before weighting; it is not a PadPickr total.
| Your criterion | Importance | Maple Street | Oak Terrace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commute | Very important | 5 | 2 |
| Kitchen layout | Moderately important | 3 | 5 |
| Yard | Less important | 2 | 5 |
Oak Terrace has two attractive strengths, but Maple Street does better on the priority this buyer values most. The useful question is whether the kitchen and yard are worth the commute tradeoff to that buyer.
4. Use close scores as a follow-up list
When homes are nearly tied, compare the categories that differ most and revisit the unanswered questions. A few points are not a guarantee of a better home. They are a reason to look more carefully at what changed the result.
When your priorities change, revisit older scores so that the shortlist still reflects one consistent set of expectations.
5. Compare with your people
From My Homes, tap the share icon beside a home. PadPickr opens Share My Homes with that property selected; you can add other homes before sending an invitation. Separate scores make it easier to discuss differences without assuming everyone wants the same thing.
A Realtor connection shares your home interests and priorities. Access to your house scores requires your separate permission and your Realtor’s paid plan. You stay in control of that permission.
Common comparison questions
What is a good home score?
There is no universal cutoff. The number reflects your chosen priorities and ratings. Compare homes within your own search and investigate material differences rather than treating a score as a valuation.
Can a free buyer account compare homes?
Yes. A regular buyer account starts with 10 owned homes. An active connection to a Free Realtor provides 25; an active connection to Realtor Pro provides unlimited homes. Homes shared with you do not use your owned-home allowance.
Does a higher score mean I should buy it?
No. PadPickr organizes personal preferences. It does not replace inspections, verified information, professional advice or a purchase decision.