Tips for viewing houses to buy

GingerLs

Would love to know your key questions, things to look out for, or any tips in general when viewing a house to buy? 

What do you look for in a house? Is there anything you find off putting and won't compromise on?

Coopsy85

only been looking for 6 weeks so relatively new to the game. Deal breaker for me is no off street parking and must have downstairs loo or the space to put one in. I also have a list of things I’d like to have but don’t expect to get all of them. 

One thing I would say though, the house that we really like is one that I’d dismissed on Rightmove and only went to see it because we were viewing some others with the same estate agent and they suggested having a look while we were in the area. 

RelievedSheff

If at all possible do not compromise on location. That is one thing you can not change about a property.

Flugelhorn

there all tend to be things that you people won't compromise on but even then they sometimes do.  I think location is crucial - many other things can be changed

Davesnave

RelievedSheff said:

If at all possible do not compromise on location. That is one thing you can not change about a property.

And aspect. Wrong side of the road, forget it! Neighbours opposite my first terraced house had the same short length of garden as me, but theirs never saw the sun from mid-afternoon onwards.

gerkin

Location is number one priority. Location determines a number of key well being aspects which can be influenced by bad neighbours, horrendous traffic, crime, anti social behaviour etc.

After that there would be other attributes like a garage, driveway, downstairs loo, garden, and so on

Falafels

The things you really need to watch out for are those which can't be changed - location, neighbourhood, size - and work out in your own mind what your priorities are. @Coopsy85 - your post made me smile - I know several people who were shown a property which was not at all what they were looking for, but they were in the area with the estate agent. And ended up buying it!

Davesnave

Falafels said:

I know several people who were shown a property which was not at all what they were looking for, but they were in the area with the estate agent. And ended up buying it!

We used to laugh at houses in the road behind us because they were so out of context in the place where we lived. Fast forward a few years, and after consulting the local Ordnance Survey map to locate affordable properties with 1/4 acre gardens, we bought one of them!

theartfullodger

Go round Friday and Saturday evening, park up, round corner, see how quiet it is.

Unicorn_cottage

State of neighbours' house & garden - if the garden is piled up with rubbish then it is a no no!

Starbrite

theartfullodger said:

Go round Friday and Saturday evening, park up, round corner, see how quiet it is.

This!

Check out the area at all times of day and night... I have just moved out of a flat that was horrific at weekends and evenings. Ok I am renting of a housing association but I wish I never said yes to the place. Talk to the neighbors if you can and ask the police if there is any anti social behavior in the area too