Can we view houses before we're financially sorted?

NewbuyerNE

Hi all,

My partner & I are currently living with his parents while we save our deposit. We will definitely have our deposit by end of march 2014 and want to be in a position where we can make an offer & move out as soon as we can instead of starting the viewing process then and possibly having to wait another 6 months.

We're going to get a mortgage in principle after Christmas but between now and then can we start viewing houses? I've been upfront with the agency and told them about the above but will they then take us seriously once we're ready to buy?

Some of the houses we like the look of are still listed (we started looking online in December when we decided we were going to buy instead of rent) but even if they go at least we'd have more of an idea on what we want.

Thanks in advance for your help.

moneyistooshorttomention

If you don't mind upsetting vendors and their estate agents wasting their time when you cant buy their house even if you want to.....

lincroft1710

What is the point of viewing 5 months before you hope to get a mortgage offer? You're not in a position to make an offer, many houses will be sold by the time you are in a position to offer.

Wait until November/December at the earliest.

t0rt0ise

It's a strange question because of course you can do what you like. Some people view houses as a hobby with no intention of buying anything. If people realise what's happening it annoys them but they can't really stop them.

moneyistooshorttomention

It's not just "annoying" though (as in "Two seconds flash of annoyance for having time wasted"). Rather more than that, when vendor might have taken time to be available and will certainly have spent time cleaning/tidying the place ready for a viewing thinking it was going to be a genuine viewer coming round (rather than a timewaster).

Most vendors will have put themselves out and raised their hopes at each time they are told a viewer is coming round, as we don't have crystal balls available to consult and say to the EA who is busily telling us of an appointment due "Don't bother...they're not a real viewer. Tell them no".

Talc1234

Go ahead,

It will give you a better idea what is out there, what you can afford, and what compromises you can live with.

As for wasting others' time, you don't owe anyone else anything.

NewbuyerNE

I've mentioned in my question why we're wanting to start viewing now (so that when we get the mortgage offer we can make an offer straight away). Lincroft, I don't think you read my question fully. I also said most of the houses are still on there from last year.

I also mentioned that I have been honest with the estate agent.

moneyistooshorttomention

But will the EA be honest with the vendor and tell them its not a real viewing? Answer = almost certainly not as we know...

NewbuyerNE

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

But will the EA be honest with the vendor and tell them its not a real viewing? Answer = almost certainly not as we know...

Then the vendors gripe is with the agent, it wouldn't be my fault they haven't passed that information in considering the agent is paid by the vendor and not me

lincroft1710

NewbuyerNE wrote: »

Lincroft, I don't think you read my question fully.

I did, I have also suffered from time wasting, not in a position to buy viewers. Rightmove and other online property sales sites will give you plenty of info on any house you may be interested in. Use these and nearer the time you hope to get a mortgage, go and view.

GwylimT

I personally wouldn't as I wouldn't want to be a time waster, I would however attend things like open house and generally just browse on rightmove etc to see what is available within my price range.