People buying without viewing

NaughtiusMaximus

I could never imagine not viewing a property before buying, a good photographer can do a decent job of polishing a turd.

NameUnavailable

I would never risk buying unseen - I need to get a 'feel' for a place that you can only get by visiting in person.

If I was buying purely for investment purposes then I could understand buying on the description/photos/room sizes as it's just about potential return.

jenni_fer

This seemed to be happening a lot here during lockdown, viewings were banned but yet houses were selling within 24/48 hours.

Generic properties where you've probably viewed a similar few I can understand but there is no way I could ever make an offer on something without having set foot in it, no matter how many times I've watched a virtual tour! Surely a large percentage of these offers get revised down or rescinded once they have actually been viewed?

Davesnave

jenni_fer said:

 Surely a large percentage of these offers get revised down or rescinded once they have actually been viewed?

Or maybe surveyed. We've never left any trace of the previous owners fittings or decor in any house we've lived in, so it's reasonable to assume that some people will base a purchase on location, space and soundness.It's nice if the kitchen isn't matt black or the living room doesn't contain a 1970s imitation stone fireplace, but if they do, it's not a big thing compared with stuff that can't be changed.

GDB2222

We’re the absolute opposite. For example, we bought the curtains with this house 22 years ago, and we still have most of them.

NinjaTune

If someone had offered on my house without viewing I don't think I could have taken it seriously.  

All but one of the properties I viewed were a real disappointment compared to the online photos.  One place was beautifully presented but like a doll house once you were inside; the pics must have been taken with widest lens known to man.  Yes, the dimensions were on the floor plan but it wasn't until I was physically in the property that I realised just how tiny it really was.  Another was dull and dingy with very little natural light when I viewed but looked really light and bright in the photos.  The property I offered on was the one that looked the same as the photos - no surprise that it was the owners who took the pics rather than an estate agent.

Davesnave

GDB2222 said:

We’re the absolute opposite. For example, we bought the curtains with this house 22 years ago, and we still have most of them.

Ah, but they're probably nice curtains. Unfortunately, the best thing we've ever inherited from a previous owner is an electric fencing kit!

badger09

GDB2222 said:

We’re the absolute opposite. For example, we bought the curtains with this house 22 years ago, and we still have most of them.

That made me smile. The curtains in my study (where I spend most of my spare time) were left by our vendors when we moved in 20 years ago. We're, very generously , leaving them together with all (apart from one set) we've bought since. Won't take offense if they ditch them all within days of moving in.

theartfullodger

Bought a house at auction, Jan 2000, only driven past it.  Don't do this at home children!

Worked out, but I could afford to gamble.

amandacat

I’m leaving all curtains and blinds in my house and have put on the fixture and fitting form that I’m doing so. They won’t fit my new house and I remember what it was like when we moved here having bare windows and needing to sleep in a bedroom with no window covering as the previous owner took all blinds/curtains. Even if the new owner doesn’t want to keep them, they at least have something there initially. 
The previous owner also said they were leaving the washing line but must’ve thought twice as they ended up taking it.