Can we view houses before we're financially sorted?

moneyistooshorttomention

lincroft1710 wrote: »

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.

:T:T. That's certainly what I did for months in between making a decision to buy and actually being in a position to do so....those Rightmove webpages were my bedtime reading of choice and, by the time I'd studied them in great depth for so long I could probably have priced-up any house going in my chosen area better than the estate agents actually there.

I did feel pretty well-prepared and with a very good idea of what I could get for my money by the time I was actually out there having viewings and it didn't take much doing at all to flush out "house I decided to buy" and a couple of runners-up just in case.

Lesson to be learnt from this by those who are still in process of selling their house is = Don't forget to ask your EA if the viewer is a real viewer or someone who has been "honest with them" and told them they aren't a real viewer...they only want a looksee at all sorts of places...but aren't actually ready to buy yet......

ValHaller

NewbuyerNE wrote: »

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.

We have all understood your question.

If I was a seller and the agent told me what you were up to, I would be saying that I hope my house sells much sooner than would fit in with your plans and to tell you to come back when you have your funds in place.

If my agent didn't tell me your plans, I would be furious if I found out.

What you risk is the agent getting flak from sellers for sending you before you were able to offer. And the agent will be looking to act as gatekeeper when he sees your face once you are ready. So you will probably find yourself forced to have a meeting with the agent's mortgage advisor before you even get to view and forced to reveal and prove all your funds to the last penny. This will put you in a very weak negotiating position.

NewbuyerNE

lincroft1710 wrote: »

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.

I thought by yours & moneystooshorttomention's responses thatyou'd been upset by a buyer but is what you're telling me helpful to me as a potential buyer or are you just still angry about someone coming to buy your house and then not going ahead?

sulphate

You can get a good idea of what your money can buy from websites like rightmove.

I wouldn't waste my time in viewing houses, spending money on transport etc, if I wasn't in a position to buy.

moneyistooshorttomention

I don't think I've had my time wasted by any timewasters to my knowledge....so no personal anger at these characters on my part.

Just a sense of fairness to vendors...that it isn't right to waste our time and raise our hopes for no good reason.

Rain_Shadow

When you are in a position to buy there will be plenty of houses to view.

Meanwhile don't waste a lot of people's time 'practicing' viewing.

You may only appreciate this advice when you come to sell.

NewbuyerNE

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I don't think I've had my time wasted by any timewasters to my knowledge....so no personal anger at these characters on my part.

Just a sense of fairness to vendors...that it isn't right to waste our time and raise our hopes for no good reason.

No problem, advice heeded and will get in the touch with agencies after Christmas.

Thanks

view

I say go for it. There is only so much you can do viewing online or driving past. You're being honest withe the ea, most people wouldn't mention as much as you had.

Let's say you view a place, you really really like it, perfect, ticks all boxes and it's still the market when you receive the mortgage. You've already viewed it, undertaken your research and you can make a move (subject to survey). Win Win.

If I was selling a house, which actually I will be soon, I would welcome any viewers, you just never know where any viewings could lead and it's still a tough market out there.

NewbuyerNE

view wrote: »

I say go for it. There is only so much you can do viewing online or driving past. You're being honest withe the ea, most people wouldn't mention as much as you had.

Let's say you view a place, you really really like it, perfect, ticks all boxes and it's still the market when you receive the mortgage. You've already viewed it, undertaken your research and you can make a move (subject to survey). Win Win.

If I was selling a house, which actually I will be soon, I would welcome any viewers, you just never know where any viewings could lead and it's still a tough market out there.

Haha this is also confusing and I'm not even in the buying process yet.

Suppose just go with what we feel comfortable with and be upfront & honest about what's going on.

Last thing I want to do is p off the EA or vendor because then it'll just make the process more excruciating and if its between us and another buyer they may go with them.

lincroft1710

NewbuyerNE wrote: »

I thought by yours & moneystooshorttomention's responses thatyou'd been upset by a buyer but is what you're telling me helpful to me as a potential buyer or are you just still angry about someone coming to buy your house and then not going ahead?

It will be helpful to you as a potential buyer. ValHaller's post says it all. Some EAs only do accompanied viewings, so that's their time you're wasting as well as the homeowner. The EA will ask for and expect feedback from you.

I'll reiterate, wait until Nov/Dec at the earliest.