Final inspection before exchange

glocal

With exchange approaching, I understand I am supposed to arrange with the agents a final viewing of the flat I am buying to check everything is in order. Excuse the newbie question, but the problem is I haven't done this before and I am not sure about the etiquette or how thorough you are supposed to be. I am not even sure how long I can spend in there. Everyone seems to suggest I should get them to demonstrate the boiler is working and how. Any other suggestions?

Many thanks

tim123456789

glocal wrote: »

With exchange approaching, I understand I am supposed to arrange with the agents a final viewing of the flat I am buying to check everything is in order. Excuse the newbie question, but the problem is I haven't done this before and I am not sure about the etiquette or how thorough you are supposed to be. I am not even sure how long I can spend in there. Everyone seems to suggest I should get them to demonstrate the boiler is working and how. Any other suggestions?

Many thanks

As the previous purchasor of 5 flats, I've never done this before either .

I guess that this must be a new build you are buying?

glocal

It's a conversion done in 2002. I suppose the point is that eg the boiler may be faulty (the vendors promised they would have it serviced). There is only so much you can check in the typical 15 minute viewing, and I hear so many stories from people who found serious problems after the exchange. It's almost funny but in my many viewing before I chose this property, almost every time I did what the vendors were trying to prevent me from doing, I found a problem. Eg a TV set strategically blocking access to a balcony door which then I would find didn't open because the mechanism was broken. :rotfl:

I would think that the older the property the more careful you should be.

tim123456789

glocal wrote: »

It's a conversion done in 2002. I suppose the point is that eg the boiler may be faulty (the vendors promised they would have it serviced). There is only so much you can check in the typical 15 minute viewing, and I hear so many stories from people who found serious problems after the exchange. It's almost funny but in my many viewing before I chose this property, almost every time I did what the vendors were trying to prevent me from doing, I found a problem. Eg a TV set strategically blocking access to a balcony door which then I would find didn't open because the mechanism was broken. :rotfl:

I would think that the older the property the more careful you should be.

There's a difference between:

checking that all of the things that you expect to be buying as "working" are actually working,

and

going around to be shown how to set the heating controller or turn off the stopcock

you appeared to be asking about the second

tim

dimbo61

Be nice and ask lots of questions
1 who is the gas and electric with ( how much does it cost each month so you can set up direct debit)
2 Any service plans with British gas, AA, other firms
3 Have you got instructions to boiler, gas hob/gas fire, NHBC warrenty etc
4 Where is nearest good PUB, CHIPPY, curry house, schools!!
5 How are the neighbours NOISE? Any problems ?
6 Check the number and location of sockets, see if they all work if possible !!

glocal

For some reason, I didn't get the notification when there were replies here. Sorry for the delay.

dimbo61 wrote: »

6 Check the number and location of sockets, see if they all work if possible !!

That's the kind of thing I am wondering about. To check every socket (and switch, aerial socket, telephone point, tap, handle, lock, boiler, stove etc etc) it will take a while. I am not sure how much of this is common practice, and at which point the agent starts thinking you are weird!

martindow

glocal wrote: »

For some reason, I didn't get the notification when there were replies here. Sorry for the delay.



That's the kind of thing I am wondering about. To check every socket (and switch, aerial socket, telephone point, tap, handle, lock, boiler, stove etc etc) it will take a while. I am not sure how much of this is common practice, and at which point the agent starts thinking you are weird!

It's a bit late to be doing this now as you have exchanged and you are committed to buying the house in its present condition. Are you hoping to do minor repairs before you move in? Your sellers are unlikely to agree to this.

There are nearly always going to be minor problems in houses but you can't normally remedy them until after you move in. Hopefully your survey has picked up anything major so you know the extent of what you are facing.

Bazshawkins

glocal wrote: »

For some reason, I didn't get the notification when there were replies here. Sorry for the delay.



That's the kind of thing I am wondering about. To check every socket (and switch, aerial socket, telephone point, tap, handle, lock, boiler, stove etc etc) it will take a while. I am not sure how much of this is common practice, and at which point the agent starts thinking you are weird!

Would any of these stop you going ahead with the purchase?
Did you have a survey done?
Have the sellers provided any certificatation for the electrics, the boiler etc?

koksrob

good question I was wondering the same.
I'm going through with a sale of my flat and think this every time I drop something on the carpet to thoughts of what happens if oven breaks now. The condition would have changed since the buyer saw the property last or survey done.

Jimbo1976

Make sure you have all the keys and that all the locks open and shut.

Check all appliances, check the drawers open. Check wardrobes. Check showers and baths work. Check the central heating works (ie all the radiators come on). Make sure that your understanding over everything being included matches the vendors.

Measure doorways etc to ensure all of your furniture fits. It's easier to deal with advance if you know your sofa or wardrobes don't fit in.

Ivana_Tinkle

Yes, it would be sensible to go round for another viewing if you can. Check the things where, if there's something wrong, you'd want to ask for a price reduction - signs of water coming in from all the recent rain and the boiler would be the main ones for me. I wouldn't bother checking every single socket or the inside of every drawer unless you think you can be bothered arguing over it so late in the day.

I didn't bother doing a last-minute check on my current place as it was 300 miles away and a complete renovation anyway so I figured it wasn't going to be worthwhile. I wish I had as when we arrived we found a jungle of Japanese knotweed that hadn't been visible when we viewed in the winter!