You’ve done your research, you’ve seen a house you like, and now you’re ready to see it in person. But do you know what you’re supposed to do when you’re there, besides look around?
Buying a house is a big deal, so you want to make sure you get it right. That’s where we can help. Here’s our guide on what to say, do and look for during your viewing, to help you feel more in control of the process and make sure you get all the information you need to decide if it’s the home for you.
Before you start
Speak to a mortgage adviser to determine whether the house you want to view is affordable. Also, ask them for a Decision on Principle (DIP) to prove you can afford the loan to buy the house. This will speed up the process once you decide to make an offer, as well as prove you’re a serious buyer.
Our Leeds-based mortgage advisers can offer you a free, initial no obligation appointment at a time that suits you (which includes evenings or weekends). They have access to thousands of deals from over 90 lenders, and can work with you to find the right mortgage product for your individual circumstances.
Arranging a viewing
When you get in touch with the estate agent to book the viewing, ask and mention these points:
- What is the seller’s situation? E.g. have they found a new house, are they in a hurry to sell, is the house vacant.
- Let them know your buying position. For instance, if you’re a first time buyer, cash buyer or not part of a chain, you’re in a stronger position to complete the sale more quickly, which makes you a more favourable candidate.
- Who is showing you around the house and what is their name? This can help you start to build a rapport, which could prove be useful if you end up in any kind of bidding war. If it’s not the seller showing you around, it’s worth asking, “can this person answer all questions I may have about the property during the viewing?” This gives you time to pass any key questions to the agent to put to the seller in advance.
During the viewing
Here are some core questions to ask you walk through the house. The person showing you around will be expecting you to ask questions, so don’t hold back!
- How long have you lived here? If it’s not been very long, it may make the next question more important.
- Why are you selling the house? If the agency have given any indication already this will help confirm this.
- What’s the average cost of utilities / bills each month?
- What council tax band is the house in and how much is it? Bear in mind that if the house is currently occupied by one adult, they could be receiving a single person reduction or be paying over 12 months (the standard is paying 10 months).
- What are the broadband and mobile signals like? Some areas may not offer the best signal for certain providers, so it’s important to know this in case it affects you. Poor connection can also affect satellite TV, which relies heavily on broadband.
- How old are the windows / doors / conservatory / flat roof? These are features that will be more costly to replace, so if they’ve been in for a while, they could be coming to the end of their lifespan.
- How old is the boiler and when was it last serviced? How regularly has it been serviced whilst you’ve lived here?
- Do you have any energy efficiency features in the house (e.g. solar panels, loft / cavity wall insulation)? When were they fitted and how effective are they?
- What can you tell me about the neighbours? They may only ever just say hello in passing, but if there’s been any problems you’re giving them the opportunity to tell you.
- What’s the parking like? If the house has a shared drive, ask what kind of arrangements are currently in place between the seller and neighbour for right of way. Another top tip is to do a couple of ‘drive-bys’ at different times of the day so you can see for yourself. Evenings, weekends and early mornings are key times.
- What are public transport links like?
- Is there anything else we haven’t asked that you feel would be useful to mention?
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but if you’re able to ask all of these questions during a viewing, you’ll get a pretty complete picture of the house you’re interested in. However, it’s important to remember that every house is different and some may require a bit more fact finding than others.
Happy house-hunting!
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