How many did you view before buying

rosyw

Just the one! knew what I wanted and viewing anything else was a pointless exercise, have kept an eye on what's come on the market in the 5 years since I moved and there's not been another to even come close!

Hoploz

We had specific criteria on location and plot size. We searched seriously for a couple of years. Narrowed down particular plots of interest by using online aerial photos. The inside of the house was irrelevant as we could renovate.

We had all the EAs sending us stuff we weren't interested in for such a long time that we started viewing houses we knew we didn't want, just so the agents could get to know us better so they would phone us first. It certainly worked as we began to get sent things before they went on the market (we were already under offer by that stage so they were all over us!)

The house we ended up buying we had identified on aerial photos as our perfect location long ago, and ruled it out as we thought it'd be well over our budget. EA first mentioned it in the November - we knew immediately we wanted to buy it, and the EA knew the same - he got us a viewing in January, (...insert very long story in this gap...) We finally moved in in September!

Mossfarr

As a landlord I view properties quite regularly. As I view so many I have found it really useful to keep a notebook and write down as many details as I can when viewing so I remember which house is which.
When you're viewing for your own home you are more likely to be swayed by emotion so have a list of your main requirements before you attend viewings. You can still fall in love with a house but then use your list to focus your mind!
mossfarr

Hoploz

On other occasions we have bought properties more plentiful in supply, but we only ever viewed houses that we bought. We do our research before viewing, to save wasting everyone's time.

Shame we had so many time wasters view our house. Got my back up big time every time someone said they didn't like this being near a main road. Seriously, you knew that before you made the appointment and I spent all morning clearing up after two small children grrr!

MJ12

I only view houses I am likely to buy. If I see a house I really like, I do my research, walk around the house and local area, get a copy of the title, etc, then I do the viewing to see if everything is as expected. If I still really want the house I put in an offer.

Davesnave

Lost count, but viewed many of a specific sort of property (smallholdings) which usually have owner-led viewings. Most property we looked at was 100+ miles away. We took winter holidays in our target area to become more familiar with it and to see it at its worst!

We did dozens of drive-bys, but with secluded property covering acres, it was often necessary to have a viewing to get a proper idea. Internet facilities and details are somewhat better now.

In the end, we sold our property, rented, and decided to give ourselves a year to find something in the new location. We viewed far fewer properties than previously, because by then we had some experience to draw on.

Things didn't work out as we'd intended though. Firstly, we bought a doer-upper instead of the 'nice' house we'd promised ourselves, and secondly, it was 150 miles from where we'd focused all our attention.

2nd_mortgage

51 physical houses viewed. We are very fussy but extremely happy with our home which coincidentally wasn't our 1st preference. We are so glad we were outbid on our 1st preference.

TBeckett100

We viewed one and that was the one as far as we were concerned followed by weeks of worrying and viewing other properties.

We only popped out for a drive!

hcb42

last time - 1

TBagpuss

I can't remember exactly - probably 10-12 then another 6-8 after the first purchase fell through.

I did make notes each time both about the positives and negatives (usually on the back of the particulars)

I had a fairly good idea of what I was looking for but took a while to arrow down which compromises to make.