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Original poster

Going to view a house. Help!

15 replies

Jasmin82 · 12/10/2019 22:22

For context, the last time I moved I was 4 years old.
I'm going to view a house a week on Friday. I've never been to a viewing before (or I forgot the one I may have gone to when parents bought house I've since inherited). I have no idea of what to expect or what questions I should be asking.
I'm worrying that I'm going to come across to the estate agent as an idiot or time waster.

OP posts:

MellowBird85 · 12/10/2019 22:26

I viewed a house today! Honestly, don’t worry about it, there’s no ‘script’ you need to follow. Think about what’s important to you. For me it was things like, what direction is the house facing (for sun in the garden), will I be able to fit my suite in the living room, is there enough storage, is it overlooked by other properties. HTH

Original poster

Jasmin82 · 14/10/2019 22:09

Thanks. It's only a little 1 bed house (I think it probably started life many many moons ago as a large shed and then planing permission for a house was obtained, as it's at the end of a garden and everyone else has a large shed at the end of theirs). Normally, given I have a Resident Collie, I would want a garden or outdoor space, but it's on the edge of a town with a nearby park and all the countryside a collie could want literally on the doorstep.
Gratuitous link:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64132704.html

OP posts:

Fairenuff · 14/10/2019 22:23

I would want to see all building regs and planning permissions.

Fairenuff · 14/10/2019 22:26

Also, who is responsible for maintenance on the access road as it doesn't look like it's been adopted by highways.

Robs20 · 14/10/2019 22:28

Don’t worry about coming across as an inexperienced house viewer! Has the house just been converted? If yes I would ask to see the planning permission (seems unusual to convert a shed to a house?), if no, I would ask why the previous residents moved on.
What is the vendors position? (Are they looking for a quick sale?)
Is there parking? I assume access is from the road at the back that leads to the back of the gardens of the other houses?

Rivergreen · 14/10/2019 22:31

hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/top-tips-things-not-to-forget-when-viewing-a-property/

Useful checklist! Also the Home Owners Alliance has loads of useful stuff, the website generally is worth a good look. Good luck!

PancakeAndKeith · 14/10/2019 22:31

I would want to know if it is standard construction. Also about parking and outside space.

PancakeAndKeith · 14/10/2019 22:35

I notice it’s electric storage heaters.
That would be a huge no to me. I lived with them for years and the cost a fortune and don’t create heat.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 14/10/2019 22:37

It doesn’t matter how you come across
It only matters to them what you offer and how quick and competent your solicitor is
You could be a raving loon as long as you have the money and a husky going to buy the place that’s all they care about, your legal team should let you know it’s of sound construction , access , difficult neighbours etc

mumdebump · 14/10/2019 22:50

We made a list of what was essential and what was desirable when we were house-hunting. The essential list remained pretty fixed - minimum no of bedrooms, off-road parking, maximum commutable distance, not directly on a main road, not on a flood plain or next to a river, not next to overhead power lines, etc. (I think outside space for the dog would have been on our essential list.) The desirable part evolved as we looked at properties and worked out what was actually important to us and what we could compromise on
So much depends on your instinct when you first view a property and whether it feels right and you can imagine yourself living there in that space. If you like it, you can always arrange further viewings to look in more detail at specific points such as any building works carried out or needed.

Original poster

Jasmin82 · 14/10/2019 23:03

Thanks for the link.
I'm guessing it may have started life as a shed due to location. I could be wrong, I'll find out next week. It's times like this I miss my parents, Mum or Dad (probably both to make sure I was actually moving out and they weren't dreaming!) would likely have gone with me for the viewing.

OP posts:

SpiderCharlotte · 14/10/2019 23:17

That's a very sweet wee house.

Like a PP I'd want to see all the planning permission etc.

PancakeAndKeith · 14/10/2019 23:18

Do you have a friend to take with you?
I took a friend for a second viewing. They can help you see sense.

blaaake · 14/10/2019 23:31

Honestly? I wouldn't touch that house with a bargepole. Having had a quick look on Rightmove there are better (ie more conventional) houses within a similar budget in that area.

Original poster

Jasmin82 · 14/10/2019 23:33

@PancakeAndKeith none available. I'll ask again. If no one is able to go with me this time round, should I really like it, I'll get someone to book time off to attend a second viewing with me. I'd been looking at it for a couple of weeks and umming and ahing before actually booking the viewing. I liked it, but wasn't sure and was playing out all the what if's and doing the maths.

OP posts:

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