The Do's and Don'ts of Property Viewing
Tue 05 Nov 2019
written by naomi baron
Top Tips when Viewing a Potential New Home
Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you make in your life. Therefore, it’s super important to make sure you do everything you can to make sure that you don’t make the wrong decision. Seeing something in the flesh is totally different to their online pictures. And, it’s a valuable opportunity to gather information about the property that you won’t be able to get any other way.
What are the Do’s and Don’ts of Property Viewings?
You need to ensure you make the most of your time viewing properties. If you use this list of things to do and things to avoid, we’re sure you’ll make the right decision about your next home.
Don’t Rush it!
This is a big decision – you’re not just picking a new pair of shoes. Though, I will admit sometimes that decision takes almost as long as this can! Take as much time as you need when you’re on a property viewing. This means that you will definitely get a good idea of what every room and area is all about.
Do Snoop Around!
OK, we definitely don’t mean go rifling through drawers – that’s inappropriate! But, you should absolutely open cupboards in the kitchen and the bathroom so that you know if there’s enough storage space for your needs.
Don’t Rely on Memory Alone
It’s a good idea to take along a camera with you on a property viewing. This way, you will be able to compare the properties you are viewing, and potentially spot something you may have initially missed.
Do Visit at Different Times of Day
A property will have differing light and noise levels at different times of the day. It’s a really good idea to view a property at the peak time everyone in the neighbourhood is likely to be home to give you an idea of parking availability. To get a realistic representation of what it will be like to live there, try spreading your visit times around a typical day as much as you can.
Don’t be Put off by Easily Repairable Faults
If a light switch is wonky or you need to replace the tiles in the bathroom, don’t be quick to eliminate this property from your shortlist. Sometimes, you can use an improvement list to negotiate a better price, if it comes down to it.
Do Check for Damp
Keep a close eye out for things like mould, bubbling paint and peeling wallpaper as these are often signs of damp. Of course, when it comes to having a survey done on the property, the type of survey you have will pick up more of these things.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions!
If you want to ask the seller something, then speak up! Your initial assumptions might not be correct, so if it’s something that will make or break your interest, speak up!
Do look Outside
It’s natural that your main interest will be with the inside of the property. But, make sure that you spend enough time outside it as well. Aside from figuring out where your best sunbathing spot will be, it’s also an opportunity to look for any potential structural problems. Again, these will also be identified as part of your survey.
It might go without saying, but there are a few other things to bear in mind when you are going on a property viewing which will make the entire experience run that little bit smoother:
- Don’t be late;
- Don’t waste the sellers’ time unless you’re genuinely interested in the property;
- Leave the kids at home – if you can;
- Keep any criticisms to yourself until you leave the property.