Can we view houses before we're financially sorted?

NewbuyerNE

For your information I emailed the EA & said I would be in touch later in the year following your posts.

ValHaller

view wrote: »

Of course there is a risk, I am more concerned to be honest at someone being attacked but being told to do the honorable thing and not tell the police. I think that is what most frightens me about the advice.

Well, if you know that taking the viewing could be provocative and you still go ahead ....

DRP

Crazy thread!

jamesd

NewbuyerNE wrote: »

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?

Yes, you can. Be completely up front with all parties involved, of course. Tell the agencies your situation and ask them to only accept viewings where there will be others viewing at the same time or where a property is vacant, to avoid inconvenience to sellers when you're not yet in a position to buy. For you and the agents as well as some sellers there is benefit to all in your viewing and becoming more familiar with the market. If a seller happens not to get a buyer it's even possible that you could end up being their buyer, unlikely though that may appear today.

If you do happen to see a place you want it's also entirely acceptable to place a conditional offer that explains your situation. Many buyers will not consider an offer so far away but some might. It really depends on them and you and the situation. Not a chance if they have to sell quickly but maybe they like you and are content to wait a bit to sell to a buyer they like. Stranger things have happened. Not likely but it might happen.

Some years back I did speculative viewing of some flats for rent. I'd told the agent that while I could afford them they were renting at a higher level than I was interested in and it was unlikely that I would be willing to become a tenant. They made a free choice to take me to viewings on the off chance that I would be tempted. I wasn't but I might have been and they considered it worth a try.

BobQ

I cannot see anything wrong with you viewing now.

If you are buying in a rural area that only has one or two EAs, I would be straight with them and tell them what you are doing in case they do not take you seriously later.

If its in a competitive urban area I would pick a couple of EAs to avoid the possibility of damaging my credibility with the rest. If you are concerned about what they tell the vendor then do not tell the EA the full picture.

Or be a little creative. Just say you are first time buyers, who are not sure exactly what you are looking for, or you are considering buying a property that needs work doing now but you are expecting an inheritance next year so might decide to wait till then so that you can buy a house that is in better condition.

I think its a fair point about wasting vendors time but if they are keen to sell they will be keeping their property well prepared for viewing. But what is worse, wasting their time now or wasting it next year when you are not sure of what you are looking for? I think its a fair point about the owner having to take time off work, so maybe you just need to listen out for any indication that this is happening and then find a reason why you do not like the house before you view.

Other other point I would make is that some people have little idea of what they want until they see it. I plan to move in a couple of years to a smaller property but I am not sure if I want small bungalow or an apartment. I want to move to an area about 10 miles from where I am now but I have no idea where in that area. Until I look I will not know and I am not worried if it takes me a year or two to do. The EAs may not like this! Until I saw your question it never occurred to me that it would me an issue!

ValHaller

BobQ wrote: »

Other other point I would make is that some people have little idea of what they want until they see it. I plan to move in a couple of years to a smaller property but I am not sure if I want small bungalow or an apartment. I want to move to an area about 10 miles from where I am now but I have no idea where in that area. Until I look I will not know and I am not worried if it takes me a year or two to do. The EAs may not like this! Until I saw your question it never occurred to me that it would me an issue!

To be fair, for you, I doubt this will be an issue, if you are not a FTB. It impacts particularly on FTB's because

• like OP, FTB's have a particular point where they become viable as buyers, where as 2nd time buyers' viability depends also upon what can be achieved as a sale
• FTB's will not be so aware of the stress around selling

I doubt anyone will have such clear grounds to be upset if you are selling a property and your viability as buyer is backed by a property you are selling. The distinctive issue of this thread is a FTB who openly admits not being viable as buyer until March 2014.

NewbuyerNE

ValHaller wrote: »

To be fair, for you, I doubt this will be an issue, if you are not a FTB. It impacts particularly on FTB's because

• like OP, FTB's have a particular point where they become viable as buyers, where as 2nd time buyers' viability depends also upon what can be achieved as a sale
• FTB's will not be so aware of the stress around selling

I doubt anyone will have such clear grounds to be upset if you are selling a property and your viability as buyer is backed by a property you are selling. The distinctive issue of this thread is a FTB who openly admits not being viable as buyer until March 2014.

Along with a lot of FTB. Do you not think with the new scheme introduced by the government due to come in in January will create a surge of people who know they're going to be able to buy in 6 months but don't have an offer yet?

The point of this thread was to ask if you were allowed to start viewing, the answer to that is yes. Whether or not you should is entirely down to the individual.

Angie_B

As a recent FTB, I honestly think it is a mistake to start viewing properties now which you are in no position to buy. House selling and buying is, in most cases, an emotion thing - for both parties.

I highly doubt the EA will be up front with the seller - they want to look like they are doing a good job by getting lots of viewers through the door. So you will be wasting the seller's time and energy by making them get their house ready for a viewing which is guaranteed not to produce a proceedable offer.

And what happens if you fall in love with somewhere? You are going to have to deal with the upset of losing it between now and next March.

If you like the look of somewhere and it is still on the market in December, go for it. In the mean time, trawl RM, prime location etc. Visit the different areas, walk around all the different streets, get a feel for exactly the area you want to live in - this is almost more important than the final house anyway. That way, you will know exactly which properties to view when you are ready to start viewing, without having wasted anyone's time.

NewbuyerNE

Angie_B wrote: »

As a recent FTB, I honestly think it is a mistake to start viewing properties now which you are in no position to buy. House selling and buying is, in most cases, an emotion thing - for both parties.

I highly doubt the EA will be up front with the seller - they want to look like they are doing a good job by getting lots of viewers through the door. So you will be wasting the seller's time and energy by making them get their house ready for a viewing which is guaranteed not to produce a proceedable offer.

And what happens if you fall in love with somewhere? You are going to have to deal with the upset of losing it between now and next March.

If you like the look of somewhere and it is still on the market in December, go for it. In the mean time, trawl RM, prime location etc. Visit the different areas, walk around all the different streets, get a feel for exactly the area you want to live in - this is almost more important than the final house anyway. That way, you will know exactly which properties to view when you are ready to start viewing, without having wasted anyone's time.

Hi Angie,

You'll see from my recent posts that we're going to wait until December (it's only 4 months away) but we've already researched & chosen our area, even to the point of being driven around by someone who used to live there & I highlighted the good & bad streets in a map using my iPad & GPS on my phone.

I'm just too damned organised for my own good & wanted to start a bit earlier so there was no waiting once we got an offer.

Goldiegirl

If you feel you really must look round houses before you are ready to buy, why not try new housing estates.

The sales people are there on site, and won't have to frantically tidy the house/ rush home from work/ put their life on hold while you view the house.