A real estate expert has revealed a surprising trick for potential home buyers: He explains why anyone looking for a new property should have a very specific accessory with them when viewing the house in question: a coat hanger.

Tamany Hall is a real estate-focused social media influencer who recently posted a video on her Instagram account revealing how her simple and inexpensive trick can help avoid unpleasant surprises after purchasing (or renting) a new home.

In the clip, she demonstrates how bringing a coat hanger with you on a home viewing can help you ensure that the wardrobes in the property have been properly installed and have not been altered to make the room appear larger than it is.

Hall carries a coat hanger into what appears to be a fairly large walk-in closet, but when she tries to hang it on the built-in clothes rod, she quickly realizes that the rod is mounted so close to the wall that a standard-sized coat hanger won’t actually fit.

The video – posted to encourage real estate agents to always have a coat hanger on hand – has been viewed over 4 million times and received dozens of comments from followers who were amazed by the simple trick.

“I would be so mad if I bought a house with closets like that without knowing it beforehand…” commented one person, while another added, “I lived in an apartment where the hangers didn’t fit in the closet and it was the worst year.”

Home hacking at its finest

Speaking to Realtor.com® about her viral video, Hall explained that the idea came to her when she was looking for a property of her own and had almost made an offer when she noticed something was wrong with the built-in storage.

“I was looking for a house and we were going to make an offer on a nice older house that had been renovated,” she recalls. “We were standing in the house and I was hesitant about the storage space.”

“I asked the realtor if he thought a coat hanger would fit in the closet and he said he actually had one in the car. It didn’t fit, so that was the deciding factor. It was a super last-minute idea to film it and the video went viral.”

Hall believes it’s important for buyers to be as prepared as possible before touring a home. And many agents seem to agree, offering their own suggestions in her video about what items savvy agents should always have on hand during a showing.

“When the video was uploaded, real estate agents reported seeing homes with cabinets that wouldn’t fit a standard dinner plate,” Hall says. “Another agent had a marble floor to check if the floor was slanted.

“I really think the most important thing is to find an agent who is proactive. Every market is different. I couldn’t necessarily afford a new home. It’s very important to have an agent who is knowledgeable about issues like mold and knows the market inside and out.”

Old houses vs. new buildings

With new construction, Hall believes buyers are less likely to encounter problems.

“Hopefully there won’t be as many problems as with an older house,” says the Dallas resident, who plans to buy her first home next year. “With older houses, you have to be a little more proactive.”

“If you know a home was built by a smaller builder, be aware that they may be leaving things out to save costs. In theory, the listing description should include what went into the home.”

Slow and steady wins the real estate race

Hall greatly appreciated her broker’s insider knowledge and expertise.

“My agent was fantastic,” notes Hall. “I’m a first-time buyer, not a licensed agent. He told me what to look for. I think buyers should go into this with their absolute no-nos and must-haves.

“When the market becomes more competitive, houses will go quickly even though there are multiple offers. If I had been under more pressure, I probably would have missed this detail. The agent is your trusted person who can give you an unbiased opinion.”

keep Calm and carry on

Hall says the buying process can be a stressful time for potential home buyers.

“The buyer is going to be emotional, and that can be overwhelming,” she says. “When you look at a lot of homes, after a while they start to gel. Location is really important, but I think the most important thing is to really trust the agent, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. Find an agent who can give you their expertise, and consider whether you and your lifestyle could live in that space.”

If you discover some of these problems after the sale, you can always look on the positive side, Hall assures.

“It may not be the perfect home you get, but it is the first step toward your dream home,” she says.