Buyers - control your children

lessonlearned

Errata wrote: »

Why on earth do viewers want to look inside cupboards - all they will see are the contents, what's so fascinating about that?

To check for damp, cracking plasterwork, mouse/rat droppings, insect infestation.....

Normally I would reserve these checks for the second viewing. The first viewing is usually just a quick walk round.

DRP

lessonlearned wrote: »

To check for damp, cracking plasterwork, mouse/rat droppings, insect infestation.....

Normally I would reserve these checks for the second viewing. The first viewing is usually just a quick walk round.

exactly.

I'm amazed that there are so many trusting people around who don't want to examine the obvious places where nasty surprises could be hiding (or been hidden!) - why? for fear of insulting the vendor/EA?

Along with examining cupboards, I move rugs, sofas etc

DKLS

Errata wrote: »

Why on earth do viewers want to look inside cupboards - all they will see are the contents, what's so fascinating about that?

Check the quality of construction, see if the carcasses are solid, check for shelf space, layout, funny smells etc.

Mylo_The_Moggy

Errata wrote: »

Why on earth do viewers want to look inside cupboards - all they will see are the contents, what's so fascinating about that?

When we viewed the house we now live in, in the main bedroom there were (still are!) built in wardrobes on either side.

Me being me didn't even consider looking in them to see how big they were, as I respect other ppls privacy. I mean, it's other ppls belongings in there & if it were me I wouldn't like my wardrobe doors opening & everyone having a nosy.

Yes I can see the point that you are able to see how big they are inside or any signs of damp etc, but vendor let me & hubby have a look around while she was downstairs, so she trusted us. I wouldn't have even thought about opening the doors, you never know what was lurking in there lol.

As it happens, the day we got the keys I was very surprised at how spacious the wardrobes were. Quite deceptive in my opinion!
So it turned out well in the end.

But I agree, why go into cupboards, let kids run riot etc? Quite rude imo.

Marshflower

We are putting our house on the market soon and this has made me very nervous!! I hate the thought of children running round our house and rooting through our stuff. We also have a very nervy,
ancient blind old rescue cat who is blind and usually hides under the bed if anyone he doesn't know is in the house. Hate the thought of him being chased out by some of the types of children mentioned on here. I had best ensure the EA knows about him. It never even crossed my mind that parents viewing a house would let their kids just roam about unattended. Surely it's not too hard to tell you child to stay with you! We have a 3.5yr old and will not be taking her to any initial viewings even if it means DH and I going seperately- I know this is more inconvenient for the vendor but maybe better in the long run. We will take her on any second viewings and I have conplete confidence that she will be as beautifully behaved as ever but just in case I shall take the seemingly novel approach to some and hold her hand as we are walking around to ensure she doesn't slope off....

Lionel_Thinkbag

Really there should be a standard set of rules handed out by EA prior to viewings. Could avoid a lot of the scenarios described above, and wouldn't put the EA or sellers in an awkward situation.

But then, that would be common sense

Errata

DRP wrote: »

Along with examining cupboards, I move rugs, sofas etc

How many houses have you viewed and shifted the furniture and floor coverings around?

moneyistooshorttomention

It's my understanding that surveyors aren't actually allowed to physically move furniture (and, presumably, rugs as well) when they look around. I would imagine the same goes for viewers then.

Not that that stopped my buyers' surveyor shifting an item of furniture when he came round doing his survey. I'm guessing he only shifted the one because he turned round and saw my face at that point and it quite clearly registered a "What ARE you doing? I know you're not allowed to do that" look for him to see. I didn't have to say a word to get that message over.:rotfl:

Mind you I figured out a way to get more information as a viewer anyway than I would ever get otherwise (as in about the area) and have had a couple of very useful conversations about the area as a whole by ringing an "interest group" and a local shopkeeper and asking for their views on specific points in the area:T. Blow asking the neighbours, just head straight for "the horses mouth" founts of local knowledge and it worked a treat.

Hermia

Errata wrote: »

Why on earth do viewers want to look inside cupboards - all they will see are the contents, what's so fascinating about that?

A friend of mine didn't look in the cupboards before buying. It was only when she moved in that she realised that the kitchen cupboards had no backs to them. There was just pipes, bare wall and lots and lots of mouse droppings where the mice had the free run of the cupboards.

I had a bad experience with kids last year. I wasn't there for the viewings and I got home to discovere that some little brat had taken a book off the shelf and scribbled all over the pages and ripped some out. There hadn't even been a pen near the bookcase and no pen pots at toddler height.

DRP

Errata wrote: »

How many houses have you viewed and shifted the furniture and floor coverings around?

all the ones i've offered on : which will be at least 3 or 4.

It would be daft not to check as much as possible imo. :money:

Hermia wrote: »

A friend of mine didn't look in the cupboards before buying. It was only when she moved in that she realised that the kitchen cupboards had no backs to them. There was just pipes, bare wall and lots and lots of mouse droppings where the mice had the free run of the cupboards.

//snip

^^ and this type of thing is why i do it!!!