Questions to ask at viewing of house

carlyh69

asking the council tax band is also a good one! Some areas are higher than others!

cwcw

I'm currently selling a property and have had a fair amount of viewings and an offer (not accepted, too low). What has struck me is the same questions coming up time and again, but also that some viewers do forget to ask things I'd consider fairly fundamental. I do try to pre-empt some of them but I can't remember everything either in the pressured situation of a viewing.

I have nothing to hide from them though, so I was wondering what people would think as viewers if you were handed a Frequently Asked Questions sheet along with the brochure, to take away after the viewing and digest, and answer any questions you forgot to ask? From my point of view it may help save answering the same questions again and again, as well as giving me a chance to word it as well as possible, and from the viewer's point of view it answers things they forgot to ask and shows there's nothing to hide. Or would it be weird or too open?

What do you think?

KateLiana27

It's often HOW the seller answers the question, rather than what the answer is.

For example, a seller is extremely unlikely to admit to having bad neighbours if they are trying to sell their house, however honest they are. But there is a world of difference between "yeah, they're fine" and an enthusiastic litany about what a sweetheart Doris with the cat next door is and how they go to the movies every fortnight with Graham and Sarah next door who've just had a baby... you get the picture.

We always made sure to ask the so-called "no chain" sellers exactly why there was no chain. Often we got a vague answer about moving in with parents or to rental if they found a buyer but no plans made - didn't believe a word of it. Others told us they had a job offer in x town starting on x date and a tenancy signed - fair enough.

Ask about all the hidden but costly things - how old is the boiler, is it serviced annually and by whom, any electrical work while they've been at the property, any building work while they've been there, etc. Council tax band and how much this works out to. Any issues with parking.

Ask whatever you want to know, but don't just take the answers at face value. Taking a list of questions that you've thought of beforehand to make sure you don't forget anything - this also indicates you mean business and aren't just browsing.

Be nice and friendly and promote yourself as a good, proceedable, reliable buyer. It's a buyer's market, but you want them to want you, in order to get it at the best price. Offering to remove your shoes at the door, being nice to pets, and finding something to compliment is always a good start. Also, take your time - this is possibly the biggest financial decision of your life and if you want to have a good poke, go ahead.

Riq

chuckles1066 wrote: »

Any disputes or noise issues with the neighbours?

You don't want to be spending £200k on a property to find the guy next door is an inconsiderate person born out of wedlock who plays Iron Maiden at 130 decibels at 3a.m.

because they will definitely be honest about it wont they!

Riq

Ak them what's the biggest animal they think they could throw over a football goal crossbar.