What do I need to view a house?

[ArmidilloToes]

I don't want to seem stupid when I call an estate agent to ask to view a house... Do I need a decision in principle to view a house? Or is that just at making an offer stage?

Thanks

You don't need anything. They will just ask your position and you can tell them eg "first time buyer" or "we've got a place to sell and it's on the market". Then you just give your basic details and organise a time.

None of the estate agents near me would let you view without an AIP - they've been doing that since COVID because of lots of time wasters viewing properties they can't afford...

Go speak to the agent and find out.
But why do you want to view it? That's the question the EA is thinking about you as a potential viewer. The EA will want to keep tyre-kickers out to avoid annoying the vendor, and depending how popular/early in the process the property is they may prioritize only those they believe are serious potential buyers.

Just ring them and ask to view it. They will ask you a few questions and take your details. They will want to know if you’re proceed-able. Do you have a place to sell? If yes, is it on the market? Will you be requiring a mortgage? Are you buying on your own? Standard stuff.

I certainly told ours last time we sold not to allow anyone to view without an AIP/ precise information on whether they had a house to sell, whether it was on the market/cash buyer etc.

Different EAs ask for different things. Some want you to be 'proceedable' and some are not so bothered.
Maybe also depends on the house you want to see - if it's getting loads of viewings and they're confident of selling it quickly they might be stricter, if it's been languishing on the market they might be glad to get another possible purchaser in to see it even if not proceedable yet.
So ask.

You might have half a dozen on your list that you want to view. You don't know if you want to buy until you've seen them all. So certainly in my area you don't need a mortgage agreed.

Eyes

Have you got a property to sell?

Most will want to know if you have a property on the market/under offer. It sounds like you are a first time buyer so you would be in a much better position of you have an agreement in principle so a) you and they know it would be affordable for you and b) you can make an offer if you like it - as otherwise you would quite likely lose out to a buyer who is ready.

It takes a bit of effort to get a house prepped for viewings and can be disruptive if you have to arrange to be out etc so it seems sensible to filter people and even then you still get timewasters.

Likely estate agent will want to know your situation, e.g, are you first time buyer, are you currently renting, or do you own already and need to sell first? We only had to show proof of deposit and mortgage in principle once we put at offer in. but bear in mind that it's a hassle to have viewings so only go if you're serious.

Ha! This made me laugh!

Some agents ask for things like an agreement in principle, whether you have a property to sell etc. Others seemingly let just about anybody go and have a look, call and ask them, they'll be happy to tell you.

It will really depend, we recently sold our house and didn't allow any viewers who weren't proceed able ie first time buyer with agreement in principle, or sold and not in a super long chain. However, our area is very popular right now so I guess we were lucky to be in this place. My brother lives 3 hours away and has had his house on the market a while, I know they have had people in who aren't even on the market themselves yet. Best to just call and the agent will tell you.

Thanks everyone.

I'm in process of getting divorced. He will buy me out so no house to put on market..but obvs I'm not a first time buyer.

I've spoken to some mortgage advisors and they've let me know what I can afford but not done the official decision in principle. And the money I'll use to put down as deposit is still in ex husbands account.

I have been looking at houses for a while just to see what's out there and one has taken my fancy even though we weren't really planning on me being ready to buy until Sept. If this house is the one then we can make it happen on our side.

It will depend on the seller usually.
We have ours up at the moment and would let anyone view. However we know some friends who have houses for sale who say unless you have an offer you can’t view.

So it’s definitely worth asking. Good luck!

I would wait until he has bought you out and you have the money in your bank. Otherwise you are not really in a position to proceed and unlikely to have any offer accepted.

@WallaceinAnderland but if I liked the house he would just send me the money. We are on good terms. I don't want to have to explain all this to an estate agent though.

In that case, OP why are you waiting to find a house before you get your money. If it's yours it should be in your name and earning you interest.

What you need to understand is that all sorts of people tell estate agents and vendors a load of bollocks about what they can afford. If you said I don't have the money right now but I can get it off my husband, the agent and vendor are not going to just believe you.

If you have a savings account statement showing your healthy balance and a mortgage in principle agreement, you are a much more attractive prospect. Get your finances in place first and then go and look. It's a much more straightforward way to do business.

(Plus you really should be getting that interest on your own money.)

@WallaceinAnderland it's not really as simple as that though is it.

How do I know what I want to negotiate regarding the split of finances if I haven't seen a house at roughly the mark we are thinking of him to buy me out with.

I'm not saying I want to view this house simply to work that out but it's definitely an added bonus.

If I go there and think actually this standard of house is not doable for me and my kids then I'm going to need to renegotiate.

The divorce has not been finalised yet. But if I see a house I really want, I'd rather prioritise that then waiting until the divorce is through until I get my share.

If the divorce is not yet finalised, you don't know how much you are going to get and you still have negotiations to navigate then you are not in a position to proceed. No vendor will accept an offer and take the property off the market based on this. It could take months just to get to the point of you agreeing how much he is going to pay to buy you out.

You are putting the cart before the horse. Sort out your finances first and then view.

@WallaceinAnderland do you have to live quite so relentlessly in the real world?

What on earth is this supposed to mean. Getting divorced and buying a house are two situations which need you to live firmly in the real world.

I'm not sure if you're joking OP or genuinely asking for advice but people trying to sell their home are not interested in time wasters. What is it that you want from this thread?

Sorry didn't mean to be rude it's a quote from peep show.

I'd like to view the house and if I like it I'd get ex (who I still live with) to send me the money, I'd get a decision in principle and I'd make an offer.

If I don't like it we will carry on as we are going through our finances at a snails pace and negotiating the split with a little help from our solicitors. And then wait until all that is done and then start viewing houses.

I really had my heart set on moving out in September but if I follow the proper snails pace route I'll only be ready to view houses in September. So it just pushes everything further away.

@WallaceinAnderland I want to know if I call an estate agent tomorrow to try to view this house, are they going to ask me what stage I'm at an then laugh at me for attempting to view it. Or could they be thinking well she doesn't have a chain so she could probs just get her finances sorted quick and make an offer if she's interested.

Hi I would just call them tomorrow and ask for a viewing.
I'm currently going through the process. Some estate agents won't ask many questions and book viewings. Others will ask you plenty of questions regarding your position. One estate wouldn't allow me to view a house, as my home did not have an offer yet.