When to start viewing?

song_of_calliope

Please forgive this basic question but we're having trouble agreeing on this in our household.

Our house goes on the market next week. In the meantime we live in another city and are in a rental. When can/should we start viewing properties? We don't want to annoy the local estate agents by viewing when we're not in a position to buy. But at he same time, we want to buy very quickly after our house sells in order to transfer our mortgage to avoid the fee for early repayment. For us it would be good to know which house we want to offer on as soon as ours sells. Of course we have no idea when that will be.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

motherofstudents

I would look on Rightmove and other websites and make a shortlist of houses you like the look of. Then do a 'drive by' viewing, have a walk round the area, visit at different times. All this you can do first and then when you have narrowed it down to just a few properties, go and view. Ok, you won't be in a position to offer but it will give you a good idea of what you want.

Is the market moving quickly where your house is ? If you are fairly confident of a quick sale then start viewing sooner. If you feel it may take longer, then stick to the preliminary research so that when you get an offer you know what you want, and where you want it.

Dual

Just recently been through the same - I wouldnt worry too much about the estate agent, its their job to sell properties. The fact that yours is on the market (or about to be) then at some point you need to buy - so they wont mind giving you some of their time in the hope that when you do sell you will select a property from their books to buy.

For me, I used right move to select and save all the properties that interested me. Then I went through them in more detail based on my essentials, desirable etc and had a bank of about 8-10 properties I wanted to view. I street viewed to look around, then drove around for a feel, see what the area was like at different times (especialy rush hours etc), checked out bus routes for my younger son who is still at school. Then, when my house sold, I called the selling agents and started viewing. I felt our bargaining power was better once we sold (but they may have just been in my head) lol

Good luck with your sale and happy house hunting!

Fire_Fox

You are not in a proceedable position, you haven't even got to market yourself yet! Get your property decluttered spring cleaned and on the market at a realistic price considering land registry sold prices for the area. Agree with your bosses that you will take some time off for viewings as soon as you accept an offer, it won't take more than a few days to agree a purchase, that won't delay anything if you push your lender, estate agent and solicitor.

song_of_calliope

Fire Fox, our house is empty and has been professionally cleaned as we have moved to another city, and it goes on the market as soon as the paperwork goes through, probably Monday, but thanks for your answer. And I doubt I'll ask for time off for viewings as I'm new in my job and trying to impress. Surely we'll be able to do evening (say5pm) and/or weekend viewings?