House viewing Etiquette and advice

ben_m_g

Show up when you say you will, and don't cancel at the last minute if you can at all help it.
Not everyone seems to get that selling a house (especially a family house) can take considerable preparation, and if you are showing the house yourself, you may have to take time off or change plans.

Personally, I like to hear that a buyer is serious and has an AIP, (I don't need to know how much for.)

Davesnave

Don't take young children, unless you're sure they'll be able to behave appropriately.

There's nothing worse than trying to show off your carefully prepared home to a couple with a whining toddler and a moody six year old who's bored and vocal about it!

ashleyj722

The best way to get your offer accepted and gain advantage over others is to tell the Estate agents your position as a first time buyer, have an agreement in Principle and if the EA recommends for you to see their in house mortgage adviser, agree to do so. Then once the offer is accepted, tell the estate agent that you got a better deal on your mortgage elsewhere.

SplanK

1. You first couple of viewing will be a whirlwind experience. My advise is to go and look at a few new build show rooms before looking at vendors houses. Get used to the idea of looking around a house, get used to looking for issues. Your first viewing "2nd hand house" viewing in an ideal world should be a house that you don't really want, again just to get used to it.


2. Don't be shy to ask questions. No questions are daft, at the end of the day you are spending an awful lot of money. Do your research BEFORE going to see the house as well, a quick google on council tax band, freehold status will give you some answers straight away. Google the post code and street name, and go through all the pages, sometimes you may be surprised at what crops up in news articles!


2. Offer to take off shoes. If they say no, at least check the bottom before walking through


3. Be polite, if you want to look behind a closed door that's 'fitted' (IE kitchen unit), then ask. Don't open wardrobes or draws that the vendor will be taking, but try and look behind.


4. Try and drum up basic chatter, but don't let it distract you. This will allow both of you to relax, but you may end up talking the vendor into letting slip about something, such as the house down the road with 9 kids in a 3 bed semi...


5. Unless you plan to only do 1 visit, I would leave checking things like light switches and taps until your 2nd visit.


6. Print out the EA details and floor plan. If no floor plan, take some paper and make one. On the floor plan, make a note of any issue areas so when you come to do your 2nd viewing you can review these in more detail. Take pictures of issues.


7. Ask the seller why they are leaving. Do they have any issues with the neighbours or even services. Are they end of chain, or do they need to find somewhere?


8. Check on google maps with satellite view and maps. Anything obvious around the area? Any streams/large bodies of water which could indicate a potential flood risk? How about a large area of wasteland which could be converted to housing?

taffer87

I would not worry about this. Sellers who care about this would be rare. Your focus should be on a thorough investigation of the house - check everything in as much detail as you like - don't be shy. Ask questions if owners are around.

red_imps_2003

As most of the above say, the majority of vendors will be keen to secure a purchase either at the highest price or with the most proceedable buyer (ideally a combination of both). I don't think etiquette usually sways it one way or the other.

The list of things to check is useful too. You will always miss loads of stuff on the first viewing and places don't always look as appealing on the second as they did on the first (in my experience, anyway).

skintpaul

Turn up on time, don't break anything.

If I was a seller, wouldn't care what buyer wanted the house for, as long as they have the funds / will to buy it!

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Most (not all.... "none so queer as folk" as the saying goes) will just want to achieve the highest sale price they can with a buyer who can proceed quickly.

If two or more offers are the same then 'secondary' things such as buyers to live (rather than rent) and polite, friendly buyers might clinch it, but in the vast majority of cases I wouldn't expect it to over the paragraph above.

Pete9501

Sold a house to two gay blokes. Didn't bother me or the missus and as the EA pointed out they have two incomes to put towards the mortgage. However, there was sharp intake of breath when they viewed the garden and realised it wasn't over looked at all, therefore they could fit a hot tub for parties, wow too much information :eek:

Take a camera, pen and notebook and record everything you might want to do room by room as its incredibly difficult afterwards to remember everything.

Pete

ReadingTim

Pete9501 wrote: »

Take a camera, pen and notebook and record everything you might want to do room by room as its incredibly difficult afterwards to remember everything.

I'd be a bit hesitant if someone pitched up with a camera and started taking photos, especially if they didn't ask beforehand...

Even though you're hopefully going to be buying it, I think the best advice to remember is that while you're viewing it, and indeed until you own it, you're a guest in someone else's house, so behave accordingly.