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Original poster

How many houses did you view before you put in an offer?

33 replies

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 07:03

I'm meant to be house hunting to buy somewhere. I think I've looked at every house for sale in my county at least 4 times online but haven't viewed any in real life. There are only really 2 out of over 300 that I can imagine myself livng in, one considerably more than the other.

I'm going to book a viewing. If I still like it would I be mad to offer without looking anywhere else?

OP posts:

EatsShootsAndRuns · 26/07/2020 07:15

Not mad at all. We looked at this house online for weeks before we viewed and instantly put in an offer. We still love it.

Dotinthecity · 26/07/2020 07:22

It’s worth physically looking at some which you may have discounted online. We saw one which looked fab online but when we visited it didn’t quite suit us. We saw 2 which were much nicer in real life. We visited about 10 before offering on the house we now live in. Good luck!

Babamamananarama · 26/07/2020 07:23

No, I think you can surmise loads from rightmove browsing and if you are particular about certain things with a house then you will be able to disregard many online. I'm the same - have looked at literally every house for sale on line, found only one that excited me, went to view it, offer in.

Some people work differently and are far more flexible in terms of what they want from a house and can choose from a few with a list of similar features. I'm not like that and am very particular about what I am looking for.

We had looked around a few others to see if we could convince ourselves on their merits but for me and DH, we both have very strong instincts and opinions on what will suit us and generally know within 5 mins of walking through the door. The house we are in the process of buying is the 4th place we've chosen together and it was the same for all of them.

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Property

borisjohnsonsstylist · 26/07/2020 07:31

I viewed two, however there were just five roads I was prepared to move to and houses don't become available on them all too often. Both we doer uppers, it was just a case of deciding which was the most liveable whilst doing the work.

Original poster

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 07:31

Thanks for the input.

I'm not super picky but there are things I need and not many houses have them all in my budget, This one ticks all the boxes except one. That's the small north west facing garden... however it's across the road from a massive country park.

OP posts:

Original poster

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 07:34

I'm autistic, research is my specialty. I should have mentioned that.

OP posts:

Lampan · 26/07/2020 07:34

I offered on the second one I viewed. I never believed when people said about getting a ‘feeling’ about a house but now I know what they mean. I wasn’t even sure up to that point what area I wanted to buy in. And the compromises I have made have turned out not to be issues at all.

xxKatie9806xx · 26/07/2020 07:35

I think I’ve only viewed houses that I then put offers on. I can tell by the photos and floor plans whether it’s something I’m seriously interested in or not. So no, sounds completely normal to me!

Tinyhumansurvivalist · 26/07/2020 07:36

I viewed 4 houses and put an offer in on number 4. It wasn't in the area I wanted to be in but was a bigger house with a much bigger garden. I've been in here nearly a year and I have no regrets. It had some hidden issues that I am slowly working through but I love it. Once I saw it online and then in real life nothing else compared

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 26/07/2020 07:40

5 I think, and I went back and bought number 1!

Original poster

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 07:41

I'm not sure if I should be viewing as many as I can in case I get that feeling everyone talks about our just accept that I'm a meticulous planner and I've found my house already and just need to confirm it with my presence

OP posts:

Parkandride · 26/07/2020 07:42

Just 3 and one of them we were dragged to by the agent, very happy here so it was the right call.

I've never been keen on wasting time confusing yourself with multiple options, I remember a friend meeting 8 wedding photographers... I looked online til I found one that was fine and good price and was nice when we met, great, stop looking.

I do know a house is a bigger purchase but it sounds like you've done your research

JacobReesMogadishu · 26/07/2020 07:43

Big gardens are over rated. We have a big one, I wish it was smaller.

Treacletoots · 26/07/2020 07:47

I was very fussy about garden aspect. Ive had 2 south facing gardens and 2 north and didn't want another north facing garden.

However, our current house has a west-northwest garden and it is amazing. We get sun all morning on the front and sun all day on the back - in the morning towards the bottom and afternoon all across the back.

However, it is large, and a detached plot so we don't have any neighbours close enough to cast a shadow, whether or not the north west one is the same you'll have to check.

SrMichael · 26/07/2020 07:53

We’re house-hunting at the moment, and viewed five before offering because we’re only interested in a specific area. Ironically, the one we offered on ( offer was accepted) was one I had dismissed online because the photos were misleadingly bad and it looked as if there were no back garden, just a front one. Like a pp, everything we’re looking at needs work, and as well as location, size and ‘feel’, it’s a matter of whether we can live there while doing the work.

So I would recommend actually viewing. I’d looked at this house’s listing in January and not considered it. It is much, much nicer in the flesh.

Muppetry76 · 26/07/2020 07:55

I knew the area inside out but still looked at 8 or 9, different styles, different parts of the (large) village, different aspects, decorating requirements etc. For many reasons I only had a couple of days to do all the viewings.

The last one (it was the last one on the list, not that there were loads more to view and I was just mooching) I got the 'feels' about. Offered the next day, moved in 8 weeks.

Original poster

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 07:55

It's a semi on the right looking from the street, so the side access to the West and the gap between the houses means it gets some sun.

The garden is the compromise, the rest of the house seems perfect.

I think out of the main compromises which is, upstairs bathroom, off street parking, 4th bedroom, decent garden or decent area. The garden is the best one to compromise on.

OP posts:

MrsTolerance · 26/07/2020 07:56

I’ve only ever viewed two houses; the first little house I bought many moons ago and our current home. Both were totally the right house and I knew I’d put an offer on before even walking through the door. I’m not suggesting this is always the right thing to do but it was for us. We knew exactly what we wanted and where, checked rightmove daily and were ready to go for it when the house came on the market. Good luck!

Elouera · 26/07/2020 08:01

House hunting prior to lockdown, we offered on the 3rd place we saw. It fell through, so we continued looking though. Although real estate pics give you an idea, they don't show that the garden is overlooked by an estate, has giant trees growing, a dilapidated garage/bathroom etc, because they obviously won't photograph those.

If you see it and like it, then certainly make an offer, but I agree, don't always discount places prior to viewing. We are now awaiting completion, and there is no way I'd have chosen the house we have based on the pics!

ExclamationPerfume · 26/07/2020 08:01

Only ever bought this house. We viewed 5 before offering on this one. We were shocked at the condition of some of them. One was full of books top to bottom. The lady offered to leave them for us when she moved. One had supports holding up the bedroom ceiling that the owner said was a nice feature. The next one was decorated in pale blue woodchip paper throughout which is a nightmare to remove.

FourForYouGlenCoco · 26/07/2020 08:01

First house - about 20, which was ridiculous as they were all much of a muchness. We got totally fed up of looking and bought the next one we saw

Second house - only viewed that one. Relocation across the country and we knew it was the best house we’d get for our budget. We were right & have been very happy there.

Third house (hopefully, in the process of buying now!) - took the day off and had about 10 viewings booked in. House we’re buying was about the 4th we looked at that day, promptly cancelled all other viewings and made an offer later that afternoon. It’s our ‘forever’ house so I wanted to look at some others for comparison purposes, but I have absolutely no doubts that it’s the right place for us.

In this day and age, with Rightmove etc, I think you can have a very good idea about whether or not you’ll like somewhere before you see it, but there is no replacement for being there in person - if you’re on the fence about somewhere, a viewing can often be really helpful and you end up liking somewhere more than you expect to! Good luck with the house hunt OP 👍

Elouera · 26/07/2020 08:03

To actually answer your question, in total we saw about 12 houses prior to lockdown, offered on 2 which both fell through. (Agent suddenly off sick, then on his return, the house had been sold!!! )

After lockdown, we saw 1 house, put in offer and accepted.

TheClitterati · 26/07/2020 08:09

I bought a few hours drive from where we were living. I did a lot of online research over a year or 2 so I had pretty good idea of houses in my budget and how quickly they sold. Not many houses on the market and they sold quickly.

I viewed 10 properties on one day, had 3 favs, one I offered to low and didn't want to increase, one was purple bricks who were impossible to deal with and total time wasters. I bought "3rd choice" -made an offer & didn't see the house again until we moved in. It's the perfect house for us

Original poster

Stabbitha · 26/07/2020 08:15

I think the thing is, I need 4 beds but can't afford them unless I'm willing to move to crackheadville.

I need to get a 3 bed and convert the loft or extend. Loads of houses or there far enough under budget for me to do that but this one has already been done. It's right on the top end of the budget but it's exactly how I would convert any other house I buy in terms of layout.

Can I really be arsed buying a house to change it all when I could just but one exactly how I want it in the area I want?

I could get a better garden but I don't think its worth the hassle.

OP posts:

xxKatie9806xx · 26/07/2020 08:27

We were in the same position OP. Needed a 4 bed but couldn’t afford one. Bought a 3 bed in a lovely area (amazing schools), extended above the garage to create a huge 4th bedroom with en suite and walk in wardrobe. It was hassle getting it done but money wise we have more than made our money back and turned it into a very nice home.

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