First Time Buyer - First viewing

mattk_180

I'm in the same position, got my first ever viewings on Saturday (3 of them)!.


Think I'd prefer to have the estate agent there and not the vendor. I feel like I'd be able to ask more probing questions but on the other hand you may not get the answers you need from an EA that has only seen it as much as you have.


I look online and found some pretty useful questions to ask would be;


Why are they selling? Have they already found the property they are moving to? How long will they need to move out?


How long has it been on the market? If a long time then why? Any other viewings taken place or offers made? Have they lived there long?


When was it last decorated? (may have covered some cracks with paint). How long was guttering changed, boiler serviced? etc.


How much is council tax and average utilities costs? Are any fixtures/fittings included? Any major works recently carried out?


A weird one as well but always try and check the lights and taps to make sure they work!


Good luck with the viewings.

hazyjo

mattk_180 wrote: »

How long will they need to move out?

Would leave that one - not entirely sure what it means.

mattk_180 wrote: »

How long has it been on the market? If a long time then why?

Wouldn't ask the vendor 'why' - bit awkward! Would ask the EA if it is a long time (although you can see yourself how long it's been on the market on its RM listing).

mattk_180 wrote: »

A weird one as well but always try and check the lights and taps to make sure they work!

Fine for a second viewing, but unless I lived a long way away and wasn't planning a second viewing for a while if ever, I'd definitely not do that on a first viewing. Some may disagree. I've had it done to my house by someone who really wasn't interested (for reasons that could never be changed) and it grated a bit! She opened every kitchen cupboard door too. What was the point? Just intrusive.


Another to look out for - if there are wardrobes or cupboards built along a whole wall, make sure the middle one isn't the chimney breast (same for kitchen, etc). Some are dummy cupboards to keep it all flush.


Obviously don't open cupboards/wardrobes of non-fitted things. I've lost count of the episodes I've seen on Location, Location, Location and the like where someone's opened someone's freestanding wardrobe or cupboard! Big no-no!


Jx

glasgowdan

Definitely better having the seller showing you around in my opinion. It is more personal, they get to know you and you can see the house as a lived in home rather than a financial asset.

Tips? Go with your gut.
Don't discuss price as it may make the seller uncomfortable.
Check random light switches.
Don't be shy to open doors, check things aren't wobbly, knock walls, turn things on.
Turn a tap on full to check water pressure.
Look for signs of leaks or dampness.
Be clear how much money you think you might need to spend on decoration, repairs, upgrades.
Look in the loft, check beams look good, no dampness.
Find out why they're selling, if they're moving locally, what their timescales are. This may render them as incompatible sellers if their timescales don't match yours.

Good luck! We've viewed about 35 houses and have settled on one at last, crossing fingers and everything else that no problems arise during conveyancing.

hunte78

Thank you again everyone. Viewing went well in terms of the experience, however we don't feel it is 'the one'.

Property was newly decorated, but some of the decorating looked more like a touch up job to make it look clean - bathroom looked dated but bright. Garden had been newly fenced so boundary was clear and garden was large, which would have been great for us as we have young children. House is right beside the primary school, so no issues with kids getting there.

Biggest issue we had was space and storage. The bedrooms were pretty empty, bar the bed, and we couldn't imagine where wardrobes or drawers would fit. One of the bedrooms only had 2 wall sockets and one cupboard which had a wooden shelf and the water tank, so not much to go on.

Also found out from a colleague who lives in same area that the empty ground right beside the house has been approved for planning permission for 4 houses. All in all we don't think we will put in an offer.

Thanks for the advice, will put it to use with next viewing.

TBagpuss

For future viewings, it can be helpful to make notes in advance to remind yourself of scifc 'must haves' so that you remember to check them when you are going round.

And take a print out of the particualrs and make notes as soon as you are out of the property about things you liked or disliked, if the property is one which goes onto your 'maybe' list - once you've done a few vewiignit can start to get harder to remember the little deatials about each property, and it helps when you come to discuss what you each thought about the properties later on.

Remember that if you like a property it is normal to have a second viewing, so don't panic about asking all your questiosn the first time!

(I personally prefer to have an agent do the initial viewing - it makes it much easierto cut it short if you decide the property is not for you, and then to have the vendor there for a second viewing when you are seriously considering the property and it's more important to find out the more specifc details)

mattk_180

hazyjo wrote: »

Would leave that one - not entirely sure what it means.


Wouldn't ask the vendor 'why' - bit awkward! Would ask the EA if it is a long time (although you can see yourself how long it's been on the market on its RM listing).


Fine for a second viewing, but unless I lived a long way away and wasn't planning a second viewing for a while if ever, I'd definitely not do that on a first viewing. Some may disagree. I've had it done to my house by someone who really wasn't interested (for reasons that could never be changed) and it grated a bit! She opened every kitchen cupboard door too. What was the point? Just intrusive.

Jx

The first point is in relation really to how quickly you would be able to move in. Is there an upward chain or have they even found their new house yet.


I think "why" would be kind of relevant. You might not get an honest answer but would be good to know if they are just upsizing, relocation or whether they're sick of the neighbours partying 24/7. Take your point though that it's probably easy enough to find out how long it has been on the market but if it has been ages I'd be interested to know why.


All these things of course I'd be more likely to ask the EA rather than the vendor. That would be a bit of an awkward conversation.


Wasn't too sure regarding the whole taps and light things myself, I just heard it was a good idea as you might find there are problems with dim lights or low water pressure.


Thanks for your opinions though, as I said, only just about to embark on my first viewings myself and these are just things I've read so it's useful to get others opinions.

elverson

And if you do 'fall in love' with somewhere, play it cool to start with - don't make them think you're desperate.

walwyn1978

Other good questions:

How old is the boiler? When was it last serviced? (Answers 'old' and 'don't know/never' - if you like the property, budget for the cost of a new boiler fairly quickly)

If You're into lots of online stuff (downloading films, online gaming, whatever) you may want to ask what broadband speed they get. Equally, they may not know..but you can ask.

hazyjo

mattk_180 wrote: »

The first point is in relation really to how quickly you would be able to move in. Is there an upward chain or have they even found their new house yet.


Yep, agree and I said to check the position of the vendors in an earlier post. Didn't interpret it as meaning that though. 'How long will they need to move out' sounded a bit strange.


I think "why" would be kind of relevant. You might not get an honest answer but would be good to know if they are just upsizing, relocation or whether they're sick of the neighbours partying 24/7. Take your point though that it's probably easy enough to find out how long it has been on the market but if it has been ages I'd be interested to know why.


Yep, agree and said the same earlier. Why they're selling, yes. Not why has it not sold.

Think we were saying the same things, just the wording was different and I misunderstood/misinterpreted.


Jx

NicNicP

elverson wrote: »

And if you do 'fall in love' with somewhere, play it cool to start with - don't make them think you're desperate.

We fell in love with our current house and the house we lived in wasn't even on the market when we first viewed the property. We were open and honest with them and told them we loved the house and explained our situation. I think the fact they knew how keen we were went in our favour and they accepted our offer, even though it was under the asking price and agreed to leave us some of the kitchen appliances.