House viewing Etiquette and advice

csgohan4

Hi just wanted some advice when viewing houses for the first time as a first time buyer with no previous experience.

I know some sellers look at the viewers and whether they want to buy it as their family home or just another house for their portfolio for example in judging their offers.

Advice would be great for what not to do and to follow

Guest101

Most sellers won't give a stuff what you're plans are.

It's have you got cash or AIP. Chain or FTB.

theGrinch

offer to remove your shoes if carpets look clean

moneyistooshorttomention

When I sold my starter house recently, yep...I was concerned with things like having a mortgage approved already/what size of deposit the buyer had/etc.

But....on from that....my estate agent had said to me to take someone who wanted the house as a home for themselves, rather than someone wanting it as a buy-to-let if I had any choice about it. That concurred with my own feelings and I did have a choice about it come the time and the person who wanted it as a home got it, though they had only offered a negligible amount more than the one who wanted it as a buy-to-let.

So - it probably wont be the first factor in anyone's mind re what buyer to choose - but there is a chance it will be one of the factors they will be weighing up when deciding who to choose.

Soot2006

Just be polite and play it by ear. Seller might not even be on site. Most of the viewing I went to were supervised b the EA as the sellers were at work during the day.

We did actually get our house cheaper than it could have gone because the family of the woman who owned it (deceased) preferred it to become someone else's family home. They grew up in the house and didn't want it to go to a developer. Sometimes it does happen!

Beancounter

csgohan4 wrote: »

Hi just wanted some advice when viewing houses for the first time as a first time buyer with no previous experience.

I know some sellers look at the viewers and whether they want to buy it as their family home or just another house for their portfolio for example in judging their offers.

Advice would be great for what not to do and to follow

I am currently trying to sell my parents old flat and yes, there is a bit of sentiment in my mind but realise that people are going to change it around therefore I will happily accept anyones money.

If anyone offers a realistic figure then I will accept.

Snakey

Don't lose sleep over it. Everyone says they'd rather sell to somebody who's going to live there as their home, but when presented with two piles of cold hard cash they'll take the largest one without a second's thought, at least round here anyway.

I was mainly up against BTL landlords when bidding, and the most preferential treatment I've ever had has been "we'd much prefer to sell to you... if only you could beat their offer."

Try not to actively upset anybody by e.g. slagging off their hideous decor, and you'll be fine.

Red-Squirrel_2

Don't open drawers!

moneyistooshorttomention

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Don't open drawers!

Well - not personal ones obviously.

But kitchen ones (ie in order to check the smooth running - or otherwise - of the runners) would be fair enough imo.

csgohan4

Guest101 wrote: »

Most sellers won't give a stuff what you're plans are.

It's have you got cash or AIP. Chain or FTB.

Wouldn't showing an AIP be a conflict of interest as it shows your maximum borrowing and ensure the EA push to offer the higher figure?


I suppose one can black out the higher figure, but then what if the lower figure doesn't cover the cost of the house outright?

princeofpounds

Agree with all the above. Basic politeness is all you need to worry about. If you are worried about this sort of thing, don't forget it's helpful to have a backbone too - you aren't attending a debutantes' ball or anything.


Shoes, yes. Do try showers, drawers, windows etc but ask first.