first time viewing, any advice?

cleofish

Hi wondering if anyone has any advice, we have our first set of viewings at 3 properties tomorrow, in total I think we have about 25 houses that could be potentials but need to have a look to whittle down the list, but because of work the viewings are going to be spread over 2 weeks. Then hopefully second viewings on properties that we really like.

Is there anything in particular you would look for at first viewing?

Initally we were just going to go and check out sizing and get a feel for the place as you can never tell from just a picture and some properties are missing pictures for bathroom/kitchen/garden. I suspect a lot of the list will get whittled down then, but I also want to be able to use our viewing time effectively and wanted to know if anyone had experience of what to look for or gauge at first viewings?
Thanks

Guest101

Look at the neighbourhood (car registrations are great to show what an area is like, 06+ plates as a majority is a good sign for me). Look at any evidence of damp etc, corners of ceilins are a good place to start. Look to see what you make of the sellers if they are there. Basically absorb as much as you can, lifestyle, house specifics the lot.

All this can give you a heads up with offers etc

Riggster

Just get stuck in and see what you like. You'll like the 1st house, then the second will be better and by the 6th and 7th you'll be confused!

Ignore the decor and furniture, you can easily (and cheaply) re-decorate. Is there potential to extend or put a conservatory on? Focus on things that can't be changed. Location, parking, size of the garden.

Personally I look for value for money. I prefer to live somewhere less fashionable but where you get more bang for your buck.

And remember you can view as many times as you like! I've done 3rd viewings and not made an offer...

Good luck!

Riggster

And go with your gut feel. If you walk towards the front door and think "I don't like it" don't try and talk yourself around, it's not for you.

cleofish

Thanks everyone for the advice, we have another day of viewing houses today.

The first lot of houses we saw were eye openers! They ranged in price a lot so I was expecting there to be big differences, but I now know why they didnt put any pictures of kitchen/bathrooms up!
The estate agent that we had was terrible really she didnt really put a sale spin on the houses which we were expecting, to be honest she didnt seem very interested at all, one house that just had come on she didnt even know what it was on for!

The last house that we saw for the day we got shown around by the vendor who were really nice and the house was all but perfect except the size of the bedrooms, we came out smiling after just seeing a really nice house, oh was all up for booking a 2nd viewing on the house but I made him come home and chat overnight, and we both decided with the amount of stuff and potential to grow in the future we needed bigger bedrooms, so that house is a no no, but at least it was nice being able to see something nice at the end of the day.

One house we saw was a small cottage, lovely featured door, big for a cottage iyswim, but when the estate agent opened the door, she said ill just check as the owner has a rottweiler and likes to leave him lose! Then we could see it was more male student inside, stinky and unclean (although I know that can be changed but not a good first impression! ), another feature stained glass door had been smashed inside and the back garden was full of dog poo, where the man must have just left the dog go out and poo anywhere! It was definitely a case of being in there 5 mins and knowing it was a no!

In another house a ladies very very poorly mum was laying in a hospital bed in the front room and the estate agent still wanted us to go in and have a look at the room... as if you could!

Anyway onto the next round of house viewings today, hopefully we wil find our diamond in the rough!

I_have_spoken

In another house a ladies very very poorly mum was laying in a hospital bed in the front room

Call me cynical, but could hang on and see if comes on as probate sale, they often go for beans.

lessonlearned

cleofish wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice, we have another day of viewing houses today.

The first lot of houses we saw were eye openers! They ranged in price a lot so I was expecting there to be big differences, but I now know why they didnt put any pictures of kitchen/bathrooms up!
The estate agent that we had was terrible really she didnt really put a sale spin on the houses which we were expecting, to be honest she didnt seem very interested at all, one house that just had come on she didnt even know what it was on for!

The last house that we saw for the day we got shown around by the vendor who were really nice and the house was all but perfect except the size of the bedrooms, we came out smiling after just seeing a really nice house, oh was all up for booking a 2nd viewing on the house but I made him come home and chat overnight, and we both decided with the amount of stuff and potential to grow in the future we needed bigger bedrooms, so that house is a no no, but at least it was nice being able to see something nice at the end of the day.

One house we saw was a small cottage, lovely featured door, big for a cottage iyswim, but when the estate agent opened the door, she said ill just check as the owner has a rottweiler and likes to leave him lose! Then we could see it was more male student inside, stinky and unclean (although I know that can be changed but not a good first impression! ), another feature stained glass door had been smashed inside and the back garden was full of dog poo, where the man must have just left the dog go out and poo anywhere! It was definitely a case of being in there 5 mins and knowing it was a no!

In another house a ladies very very poorly mum was laying in a hospital bed in the front room and the estate agent still wanted us to go in and have a look at the room... as if you could!

Anyway onto the next round of house viewings today, hopefully we wil find our diamond in the rough!

Just keep an open mind, view everything and then draw up a shortlist. The more you see the more you will learn.

1. re the cute cottage. I know it's very difficult when faced with nasty dogs, stinking houses, dog poo in the garden, smashed doors etc but there could well be a little gem underneath that lot. They are all easily fixed - it's just that you will need a few days after completion before you move in to clean up the worst. Fling open the windows, surgical type mask for your nose and mouth, rubber gloves and bleach........

If you can look beyond the filth that one could well be your "diamond in the rough".

2. Re the poorly lady in the hospital bed. Please don't be too embarassed by this. I'm betting they were desperate to sell to get a bungalow or apartment so that they could keep Granny at home rather than have to have her taken into care.

I admit a situation like that is never easy and it requires tact and consideration from the viewers but in my career as an EA I have had similar clients. In such situations they really need to sell and they can't just hide poor old Granny away for viewings.

Happy House-hunting.

Dan-Dan

we had a viewing today , we wont be proceeding , but heres the link , for interests sake , it was one of those where you think , this could be the one , and the deflating feeling when it isnt , is a bit of a sickener...

Problem for us , this one had a blown pane of glass , easy enough to sort , the garage door was rotten , but the biggie is (and we suspected it so took a tape measure) room 3 isnt big enough for a single bed , so us with two kids , one girl , one boy , cant buy it! , did consider how to make it bigger but the stud wall cant be knocked down because the windows of both front bedrooms are too close !

what builder designed a house where two bedrooms were the same size and one was only big enough for a cot!?

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/29231278?search_identifier=7ef34c92874b333a3a5faf581d4c6ac7



Basically , first viewing , also prepare to be gutted !