Going for second viewing - what to ask?

AnnaV

We had one viewing and have established that the location of the house and size would suit us.

So - now to the details!

What questions do I need to ask?

What do I need to look out for?

What specific things do I need to check?

We are FTB so really don't have a clue about much...

googler

How long the curr owners have been there
Are there any ongoing disputes with neighbours
Are there any ongoing problems with the house that they are aware of
Depending on the age of the house, when was it last rewired?
Again, depending on age, is there any lead piping, galvanised tanks, etc. in the plumbing system, or have these been replaced with modern equivalents?
If the owners have modified the house at all (doors, windows, extensions, conservatory), do they have all the appropriate planning and building consents?
With any recent mods, are there guarantees still in force which are transferrable to you?
What's the council tax band, and if they'll tell you, what does that equate to in monetary terms?
Is the house connected to mains drainage, or is there a septic tank or other self-maintained drainage system?
If it's at all unclear, ask them to show you the exact boundaries of the property

Some folks here suggest that you go around flushing the toilet, running the bath, the shower, kitchen taps etc. to ensure they all work, but frankly I think that's bordering on rude.

However, DO ask, if they have modified electrical, gas or plumbing, whether or not they made the mods themselves. You don't want to move in and find gas pipes held together with gaffa tape under the floorboards......

Ask about their current utility suppliers once your offer has been accepted and things are progressing.

ruggedtoast

AnnaV wrote: »

We had one viewing and have established that the location of the house and size would suit us.

So - now to the details!

What questions do I need to ask?

What do I need to look out for?

What specific things do I need to check?

We are FTB so really don't have a clue about much...

If you know nothing about houses (and cant get anyone to go with you who does) then a second viewing isnt going to tell you much other than whether you still like it. You may notice defects you hadnt the first time round but I imagine you'll be relying heavily on the survey, if things get that far.

If the vendors are there it is however a good opportunity to give them a gentle grilling about the neighbourhood, their circumstances and how they have found the house.

Most people arent very good at hiding things if asked outright. Therefore, and as anything negative will have been edited out for them by the EA, you can find out quite a lot at this point.

If they have problem neighbours, are battling subsidence, or are in the middle of a chain that will take three years to complete at the earliest, a short chat with them could be time well spent.

CloudCuckooLand

"How low are you prepared to go?"

!

joerugby

googler wrote: »

How long the curr owners have been there
Are there any ongoing disputes with neighbours
Are there any ongoing problems with the house that they are aware of
Depending on the age of the house, when was it last rewired?
Again, depending on age, is there any lead piping, galvanised tanks, etc. in the plumbing system, or have these been replaced with modern equivalents?
If the owners have modified the house at all (doors, windows, extensions, conservatory), do they have all the appropriate planning and building consents?
With any recent mods, are there guarantees still in force which are transferrable to you?
What's the council tax band, and if they'll tell you, what does that equate to in monetary terms?
Is the house connected to mains drainage, or is there a septic tank or other self-maintained drainage system?
If it's at all unclear, ask them to show you the exact boundaries of the property

Some folks here suggest that you go around flushing the toilet, running the bath, the shower, kitchen taps etc. to ensure they all work, but frankly I think that's bordering on rude.

However, DO ask, if they have modified electrical, gas or plumbing, whether or not they made the mods themselves. You don't want to move in and find gas pipes held together with gaffa tape under the floorboards......

Ask about their current utility suppliers once your offer has been accepted and things are progressing.

Personally I would get a survey done which should deal with most of the above.

A second viewing should answer questions such as:

1. Can i live with this kitchen or would we want to replace it?
2. Can I live with the bathroom?
3. Do we like the curtains / carpets or would these have to go too?
4. Will our furniture fit into the bedroom, living room, etc?
5. How much redecoration and or other changes would we want to make (and how much might these cost)?
6. Will the car fit in the drive / garage?
7. What's the garden like? Does it get any sun? Does it need money to be spent?

Etc, etc

Most of these are personal questions that in my experience it is best to answer before you buy rather than afterwards

Think of as many as possible and list them before you view

DVardysShadow

You need to set your own agenda, it is not so much a menu of questions to ask.

• Would you be happy to live at that location?
• Are you aware of the issues you may nee to address with the property?
• Are the vendors people you feel you can deal with?

googler

joerugby wrote: »

Personally I would get a survey done which should deal with most of the above.

...but it's cheaper just to ask, surely....?

AnnaV

googler wrote: »

...but it's cheaper just to ask, surely....?

Yes, that's what I was thinking!

AnnaV

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You need to set your own agenda, it is not so much a menu of questions to ask.

You are definitely right, but it's very useful to have all this food for thought...

DVardysShadow

googler wrote: »

...but it's cheaper just to ask, surely....?

You would have thought so. But the answers you get are not really worth all that much - discovering lead wiring after you have asked verbally about rewiring [when the vendor means they did some, but not all] can make asking more expensive than a survey.

AnnaV

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You would have thought so. But the answers you get are not really worth all that much - discovering lead wiring after you have asked verbally about rewiring [when the vendor means they did some, but not all] can make asking more expensive than a survey.

Sorry, what I mean is that I would still get an in depth survey, but if there were any problems flagged up by the initial questioning I could decide whether or not to take it so far as to put in an offer in the first place.