What do you ask/look for...

[GlassSuppers]

When viewing a house to buy?

Just that really. Viewing a house tomorrow that's been totally gutted and stripped, not even carpets left.

It's exactly in the right location and well within budget.

Give me tips on how to picture what it would look like as a home and what would you ask the estate agent?

Only viewed houses that have been occupied before.

I would be imagining my furniture, mentally checking if it would all fit in.

You need to measure your current rooms to check against the floor plan.
Imagining walking to the kitchen/loo etc
Check for storage...if no understair cupboard where will the vacuum cleaner go
Stairs look safe?
Baby? Where will a pram go
Bringing back shopping how will that work (parking outside? Steps to front door?)
Garden? Low maintenance?
Room for computer?
Tv points
Phone sockets in rooms you’d want them?
Kitchen fitted? If not that’s a big expense and you’d need to measure carefully for fridge etc
Where would a washing machine go?
Ironing board?

I’d also ask why it was gutted
Plus any info about neighbours
Has it had any offers
Any one done a survey? What did it show?
Look st the fuse board see if it’s got a rcd (more modern but still if you proceed get an electrical survey)
If it’s been replastered, why?

Wardrobes if not built in are very large may need to be subtracted from floor plan measurements

Radiators. (May have somehow not spotted that our house didn’t have any in the bedrooms, only the landing. Odd.)

The best thing I ever did was take my BIL, who is a joiner. He could immediately point out what needed fixed, who had done some home DIY etc.

Do you know anyone handy?

Kirsty & Phil lay on the floor of bedrooms to gauge the size.

Tape measure with pebbles to mark out furniture.

My first thought upon entering is ‘where will all the shoes, bags & coats go?’

Where will you hang wet washing? Never amazes me how this is overlooked.

Easy to take rubbish from kitchen to wheeliebin?

Can you see your kids in the back garden from the kitchen? (If necessary)

Loft hatches accessible for storing Christmas teees and suitcases?

Well we went and had a look.

It needs work. Nothing too drastic, flooring needs redoing and the windows will need replacing along with the bathroom but we can definitely see us living there as a family.

Offered £20,000 less than the asking price and got it!!

Fingers crossed it all works out!