Second Viewings - what to look for

RetroBob

I've looked around 10 potentials and am particularly interested in about 3. I have booked a second viewing on one of them. Not sure why, it seems like the thing to do be cause everyone else does. I looked pretty thoroughly last time, what else should I be looking for?

I'm also bringing a friend for their opinion also.

Thanks in advance.

poppysarah

Look in cupboards. Switch count, socket count. Ask to see boiler service history,
re-check you feel the same way about it. Is the decor shabbier than you remember?

Swipe

Always a good idea to take a video footage when doing viewings. It's amazing how you forget stuff after a few viewings.

SavingSteve

Looking in cupboards? Video viewings?

I'm a future buyer too, but IF I were a seller I'd be mortified with either of the above. Just my opinion

poppysarah

Cupboards are the places that hide bad cracks, damp - and looking under the kitchen one for a lead water pipe can be useful.

~Beanie~

SavingSteve wrote: »

Looking in cupboards? Video viewings?

I'm a future buyer too, but IF I were a seller I'd be mortified with either of the above. Just my opinion

And me!! Although I've never actually sold anywhere, only bought (without doing either of the above) so maybe thats the done thing when buying these days?

If I was selling now, I would hate for anyone to open my cupboards in case they got hurt in the falling avalanche of junk I had stuffed in them before they came to view!!!

maz_student

Whats there to be embarassed about looking in cupboards? If owners are embarssed then call them up and tell them before-hand. The owners can put their junk in plastic boxes or on the bed or whever. The new buyer is going to spend thousands upon thousands of £££s to buy the new house...why not look in the cupboards? For example, you have to get a good idea about the sizes of the kithen cupboards.

Just do it but let them know in advance (out of courtesy)

poppysarah

If you're too shy you could ask your surveyor to check in them.

RetroBob

Do you think they'll redecorate if I ask

Mind you, the point of redecorating is "making it mine".

poppysarah

Getting the keys and moving in is making it yours. You can keep the whirly carpets and wallpaper if you want.
There's no point replacing good flooring with cheaper stuff just cos you don't like the colour.

QTPie

I definitely agree - this is your opportunity to have a good, hard second look. I think that people can often get over-whelmed during a first viewing. A second viewing is your opportunity to look past the decor, the furniture and the accessories and look at the bare-bones practicality of the place... If bits aren't perfect, could you find ways around them (extend/redecorate/replace etc). Will your giant sofa fit the lounge? If not are you willing to get a new sofa? Is the garden as big as you remember? What is the storage space like? Not enough - so could you put fitted wardrobes in? Etc.etc.

Damn right I would open wardrobes and kitchen cupboards... Would you spend £100 on a handbag and not look inside to see what the storage pockets are like? So why spend £100k/£200k/£400k/£700k on a house and not know whether the kitchen cupboards are practical OR whether there is actually a hanging rail in the wardrobe in the master bedroom?

As a seller, my house is spotless AND my wardrobes are organised (no box of feminine hygiene products starring the viewer in the face when he opens my wardrobe... ). I don't expect the same of others, but I expect to be able to look...

QT