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AIBU?

to want to view a house more than once before putting in an offer?

130 replies

ohhifruit · 14/01/2014 22:14

We've viewed a few places and 3 of them have been potentials.

  1. Viewed 3 times before deciding it wasn't quite right for us. We were very close to putting in a bid but the work required would have been too much. The EA seemed to think 3 times was excessive but I did not think it was outlandish when spending thousands upon thousands of pounds.


  1. We're booked into see a house for the second time this weekend with a builder friend so he can tell us what kind of work he thinks would be possible. When I spoke to the EA he said "a second viewing, do you think you'll be making an offer?" as if viewing a place we could potentially live in for more than 5 minutes was totally unreasonable unless we were 100% sure we'd put in an offer.


  1. Viewed a house about 6 months ago and the vendors said our second viewing could only be for 5 minutes. I felt like Anneka Rice. The first viewing hardly took 10 minutes so it's not like the last time we were in there watching Panorama and eating their cheese and motherbanging crackers.


I'm half imaging viewing retirement properties in my 70s by merely opening the letterbox and having a good sniff.

How many times did you view your house before you put in an offer?
How many times is unreasonable? 2, 3, 4, 9, 67?
OP posts:
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Pleasetryan0ther · 14/01/2014 22:15

Once, but it was London and you couldn't hang about.

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 14/01/2014 22:16

Same.

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Binkyridesagain · 14/01/2014 22:18

once it was priced at the right price for lots of people, offer was accepted, thankfully EA wouldn't allow gazumping otherwise we wouldn't have got it.

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TunipTheUnconquerable · 14/01/2014 22:18

2 is normal. We have only viewed the house we're buying once and I'm feeling a bit funny about it - firstly, I'm worrying about whether we've been rash, and secondly, I'm worrying whether we might look flakey.

It might be different in London though, for all I know - different world down there....

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poocatcherchampion · 14/01/2014 22:18

once Grin
and one after having offer accepted.
sorry op.

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DragonMamma · 14/01/2014 22:20

Twice

3 times seems excessive. What could you find out on a third that you didn't on the first two?

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BadgersRetreat · 14/01/2014 22:20

Twice. I think the EA is being a bit of an arse.

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mummymeister · 14/01/2014 22:21

3 or 4 times each time. I wouldn't buy a dress without trying it on twice and they cost a lot less than a house. you have to be sure. make sure you visit the area its in at all times of the day and night so you don't get any nasty surprises. nearly bought a house on a road used heavily for school run and college parking. ok to get out of your drive up until 8am but after that blocked in until 4pm. glad we popped round at lunchtime one day and saw this.

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MoreBeta · 14/01/2014 22:23

Twice. First time with DW and second time with builder to survey the work required. Then a cash offer for a quick sale.

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MirandaGoshawk · 14/01/2014 22:23

Oooh, YANBU. If I'm going to spend £250000 on something I want to spend the night!

So I going a couple of times, taking your parents round as an excuse to go again for their opinion etc is NBU.

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SparkleToffee · 14/01/2014 22:24

Three is a bit much IMO . For this house DH came to look whilst I was at work and then I came for another viewing by myself and put offer in. If you know your budget, the market , what it is you want them I can't really see why you would need more than 2.

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BerryMojito · 14/01/2014 22:24

Twice - every house I've ever bought.

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happydutchmummy · 14/01/2014 22:26

We only viewed the inside once, but did drive by at various times of day to double check on the parking situation... and I saw it again after having offer accepted, but it wasn't a formal viewing, just went round to have a chat with the people selling about completion times.

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SparkleToffee · 14/01/2014 22:26

mummymeister but that's not a house viewing that's an overview of the area. We did that. - DH went round and sat in the car at midnight on a Saturday night, but You don't need EAs to do that .

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Finola1step · 14/01/2014 22:26

Twice. Two months apart. Then a third time after offer accepted but before paying for a survey.

Bought previous house in early 2007. Market was very much on the up. Houses in the area moving fast. Viewed the house once, in the evening. Fell in love with it. Offered the next morning, offer accepted. Completed four months later. Had a sinking feeling that I had been rushed. I was right. Lots if problems came up. Got it all sorted. Sold three years later, made a profit and took the money and ran.

Moral of the story? Always sleep on such a massive decision and view a house/flat at least twice an ideally at different times of the day. You are right to be careful.

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17leftfeet · 14/01/2014 22:27

Twice -the first time to get a feel of the place, the second time with my practical head on

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DameDeepRedBetty · 14/01/2014 22:29

We viewed twice but made fundamental error of both viewings being same day of week/time of day. Then we'd have realised that it would be sheer hell every school day morning and afternoon and even worse on Market days.

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WooWooOwl · 14/01/2014 22:29

Twice is enough, I think asking for a third needs to be reserved for when you are 99% sure you're going to put in an offer.

Tbh, there's nothing I would gain out of viewing three times that I couldn't get out of viewing twice.

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whois · 14/01/2014 22:30

Twice.

I don't see what the problem is with viewing more than once? It's good practice I think.

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MidniteScribbler · 14/01/2014 22:30

I think twice is reasonable. I've purchased after just one inspection before, but I was buying interstate and it was the last house I looked at and I had to get a flight home.

Three times then no offer I'd think you were a bit of a twit and a time waster. If you've looked at lots of houses and keep going back for extra inspections but not making offers then I can see why the agent is getting a bit annoyed.

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NoArmaniNoPunani · 14/01/2014 22:30

Just once. Had another look once offer was accepted

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ceeveebee · 14/01/2014 22:31

Once - open house in London - we were first in and offered the asking price within an hour!

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JackieBrambles · 14/01/2014 22:31

We've seen the place we are buying now twice.

We have put in an offer on a place after seeing it once (this is in London - and we didn't get it even after offering 12k over asking price!!)

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Bowlersarm · 14/01/2014 22:32

Once.

Then again after contracts were exchanged to measure up.

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Bowlersarm · 14/01/2014 22:34

Meant to say, I think twice is fine. Three times is just about acceptable. I probably would say no to a fourth viewing.

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