House viewing tips!

[SquishTheWhale]

Hello lovely dibbers

My husband and I are off to view a house this evening! While we've viewed plenty to rent in the past this is our first time viewing to buy.

Any tips for first timers on practical things we should be looking for, and questions we need to ask? I'm sure there's different things that will need to be checked when buying instead of renting!

On paper we absolutley love this house. If we love it as much in person, how should we play making an offer? Obviously we don't want to come across as desperate but we wouldn't want to lose it by dithering either. It's at the top of our budget so we can't afford to go higher if they decide to try and squeeze us and it only came on the market a few days ago. How long would you wait after viewing before making an offer?

[pinkyoshi]

moneysavingexpert/mo...-buying-guide/

I found this really useful.

If it’s only just gone on the market they’ll probably be expecting very near to the asking price. If you like it and know it’s the one I’d offer as soon as possible, providing you’ve already got your mortgage in principle sorted.

[SquishTheWhale]

Originally Posted by pinkyoshi

moneysavingexpert/mo...-buying-guide/

I found this really useful.

If it’s only just gone on the market they’ll probably be expecting very near to the asking price. If you like it and know it’s the one I’d offer as soon as possible, providing you’ve already got your mortgage in principle sorted.

See more...

Thank you will look at those tips!

Yes we have a decision in principal from the bank. I think you're right that they'll be expecting the asking price- hubby thinks we should offer under though.

[parisdisneyfan]

We are in the process of selling and buying and it is 20 years since we did it before so all new to us again!

Have you driven past it? We found loads we loved on paper but when we drove past, not so much! Next thing to do is check the local area for similar and check what they sold for on Rightmove, around here though the market has dropped in the last couple of months. Look at the pictures again and have ideas of whether it needs anything major doing ie bathroom, kitchen etc not decor unless it is really out there or definitely needs modernised ie 1970's. Why are they selling? Although if you are in rented not such a big problem. Also look at whether things are built in or freestanding - including freestanding in your offer is always a good thing ie we will pay asking price to include white goods/TV/curtains? Ask about neighbours, shared drives, boiler age, windows, any developments nearby, schools if you either need them now or in the future. Will the agent show you round or the owners? I haven't met our buyers but we did meet our sellers.

I agree that if it has just gone on the market then yes they will be expecting near asking. But remember when you have your survey that if something crops up then you can ask for a reduction, similarly if your mortgage valuation is lower.

Our buyers said that our kitchen was lovely but then when they discovered it was 10 years old asked for a reduction! But we are getting a reduction on the property we are buying for work that needs done so even stevens really.

We made an offer a couple of days after viewing as did our buyers. We originally offered around 7% lower and that is roughly what we are buying at. Our buyers have got it about 2% under the current asking price although we had reduced it.

Other than that, I would say first viewing enjoy being nosey. Then think about it and 2nd viewing plan what you would do with it, where your furniture would go? Good luck with it all, very stressful but will be lovely to own your own place xxx

[Pjamas]

Ask if the water pipes are shared and what the deal is if they leak - we had a house with a shared water supply - total nightmare!

I would also inquire if there are very big trees around and ask if there is any cracking on the walls - also ask if it’s built on clay as big trees and clay can equal subsidence.

Also view houses you aren’t sure about, we ended up feeling confused and we viewed everything we might like for a while and it really helped firm up our ideas and opened us up to new things too.

[Jaspercat10]

I agree go and see if you love it on first viewing and then book a second if you do to view all the sensible bits, there is too much info to process on a first viewing go and have a nose and see if you love it 😊

[THOscar]

View it in daylight and nighttime too. You spot different things at different times.

[Niki Mouse]

We have recently moved. It took a long time to sell our previous property and as a result we stopped viewing (only looked online) as was becoming disheartening... when we did have an offer we looked at loads, even things that didn’t look great on paper as sometimes it’s surprising. Thought we had found the one, but wanted to be sure so looked at lots more (we did this all really quickly within a week) anyway, my advice would be to look at as many as possible.

[Bats]

How exciting to be looking for your first home, that's a lovely feeling.

My top advice would be to look inside the cupboards (kitchen mainly). My niece viewed a house and it had a lovely kitchen - or so she thought. Once she bought it, she realised they'd put new doors on and the carcasses were absolutely rotten. Cost her £6k for a new kitchen - lesson learnt. Open the doors and peek inside!

I would ask about any neighbour dispute (you will need to get this in writing via your solicitor). Nothing worse than them saying the neighbours are lovely, only for you to find out they are a nightmare and the people who sold to you had a mountain of complaints against them. This is against the law not to disclose I believe, but best to get the info up front.

Drive there at different times of the day and weekends to check out parking, noise etc. Walk around the area and get a feel for it.

Offer below if that's what you want, but have a reason for offering below. Being first time buyers, you are in a stronger position than someone in a chain, use that to your advantage. Make sure your offer has the caveat that if accepted, the house must be removed from all advertising and no more viewings accepted.

Ask about any management fees (if it's a newish house) - they can really add up each year and most require an extra payment when you remortgage.

Research future building plans for the area. You don't want to buy because it overlooks a beautiful meadow, then find out the farmer sold it and 200 houses are going to be built on it! Don't trust anyone else to do this research - do it yourselves for peace of mind.

If there is loft access, be sure to take a look so have a torch/step ladder in your car in case they say they don't have one available. A hidden ton of trouble could be up there (like daylight)!

Is there room to expand should you wish to? Out the back, on top or to the side? Have other houses in the street done extensions?

To finish (apologies for going on) - don't be too keen in front of the owners. Make nice comments if you want, but don't over-egg it. If this one is the right one, everything will fall into place, but don't let emotion rule your head. Something better will always turn up if this one doesn't work out.

Enjoy!
Joa

[SquishTheWhale]

Originally Posted by Bats

How exciting to be looking for your first home, that's a lovely feeling.

My top advice would be to look inside the cupboards (kitchen mainly). My niece viewed a house and it had a lovely kitchen - or so she thought. Once she bought it, she realised they'd put new doors on and the carcasses were absolutely rotten. Cost her £6k for a new kitchen - lesson learnt. Open the doors and peek inside!

I would ask about any neighbour dispute (you will need to get this in writing via your solicitor). Nothing worse than them saying the neighbours are lovely, only for you to find out they are a nightmare and the people who sold to you had a mountain of complaints against them. This is against the law not to disclose I believe, but best to get the info up front.

Drive there at different times of the day and weekends to check out parking, noise etc. Walk around the area and get a feel for it.

Offer below if that's what you want, but have a reason for offering below. Being first time buyers, you are in a stronger position than someone in a chain, use that to your advantage. Make sure your offer has the caveat that if accepted, the house must be removed from all advertising and no more viewings accepted.

Ask about any management fees (if it's a newish house) - they can really add up each year and most require an extra payment when you remortgage.

Research future building plans for the area. You don't want to buy because it overlooks a beautiful meadow, then find out the farmer sold it and 200 houses are going to be built on it! Don't trust anyone else to do this research - do it yourselves for peace of mind.

If there is loft access, be sure to take a look so have a torch/step ladder in your car in case they say they don't have one available. A hidden ton of trouble could be up there (like daylight)!

Is there room to expand should you wish to? Out the back, on top or to the side? Have other houses in the street done extensions?

To finish (apologies for going on) - don't be too keen in front of the owners. Make nice comments if you want, but don't over-egg it. If this one is the right one, everything will fall into place, but don't let emotion rule your head. Something better will always turn up if this one doesn't work out.

Enjoy!
Joa

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Thank you great tips. It looks new-ish but pretty sure its not classed as a new build under 2 years, we definitely need to ask about that as our decision in principal doesn't cover new properties.

Very good tip on bringing a torch. I've looked at other sold houses which are almost identical, just have their gardens done up better and one went for £15k more so it does make me wonder what is wrong with this one. Could it just be the garden and decoration? Or maybe it's Brexit affecting house prices?

It's a fairly built up area anyway, a modern development that backs onto an industrial estate (with a street or two separation from 'our' house) so no beautiful lakes to ruin lol. I don't think my mother approves as she keeps sending us links to scenic countryside cottages but we care more about the inside of the house and local amenities than the scenery! She also keeps sending me 'Kirsty and Phil say this' lol. One of them being ask them to take it off the market when an offer is accepted like you say!

No room to extend it, possibly bar a conservatory. But it's more than big enough for our needs anyway which is mostly what we love about it- even if we have more than one child we wouldn't need to move, it has 4 bedrooms 3 of which are doubles. From google satellite view it doesn't look like anyone else has done any extensions.

Originally Posted by Bats

Where will we all park when you invite us all for the housewarming party?!

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Lol! I think my parents might be displeased if there's nowhere to park, but worst case scenario it's a few minutes away from the park and ride so they can go there lol. It's a new-ish development (not new new) and of course nowadays it's all one allocated parking space per house and no spare parking.