Would you buy a house without viewing inside?

[Longjohn33]

Due to corona the vendors aren’t allowing people inside to view. Given the current housing market I believe it will sell regardless.

We have driven outside it and really like what we see. It’s a new build (not brand new) 5 years old. We have plenty of photos.

It is well within budget and really the first house we’ve seen in a year that I think has lots of potential and a good price.

We were priced out of any other house we’ve been remotely interested in due to the demand when the housing market opened and restrictions were lifted.

We need to move ASAP for schools and so time is ticking. We were due to move last March but it fell through when corona struck.

No way

Friend works for estate agent

Allowed to view

Ideally sellers go out and opens doors and windows

Estate agent there

Buyer looks with mask

Not a chance. The vendors are being ridiculous.

Absolutely no way would I buy a house without viewing it.

I have but we did view next door but one which had an identical layout. It was also a renovation project so my expectations were low and kitchens and bathrooms didn't matter.

It’s a no from me too. For most people, it is the biggest amount of money they will ever spend on one thing. No way, would I spend without being able to view properly.

We can’t get into a house which is frustrating. Vendors are elderly and have underlying issues and won’t alllow viewings until out of lockdown. I don’t think it should be on the market! but estate agents say they have quite a few properties with same status in that area. These vendors won’t even allow agents in to take more photos or make a video.

Other area we are looking in hasn’t had this issue we’ve been able to view with vendors showing us around in some cases.

@CarryOnPlainHunting

I bought our current house without dh seeing it. In hindsight that seems crazy.

Glad I’m not the only one!

It was the best decision I’ve ever made

If it were a main home, no. If it were a buy-to-let, then maybe.

I really don't think they should be selling it, unless they are prepared to have viewings.

Never. I also never buy a house without flushing their toilets (I learned this from the bitter experience of buying my first ever flat with a toilet with a flush that took three attempts to even flush a wee with 4 squares of loo roll).

I wouldn't.

But OH and I bought our current home without him viewing it.

I loved it and that was good enough for him.

No way! After loving a house online for a while a few years ago I finally booked a viewing. House was lovely just like on the photos but dear god it stunk of cigarette. Disgusting! Something you can’t see on the photos.

Make an offer but proviso you can view the house asap after/if they accept

Things to check if you make this decision:

Area (how big are the rooms and how big is the house itself). You would need detailed measurements. You could compare it to where you currently live. Wide angle camera can distort pictures.

EPC rating. It is crucial. Low rating will mean the following:
crazy heating bills, condensation and mould.

Check that double glazing is intact. Simply ask for pictures of windows.

I would say some people view the homes and yet ignore these simple things.

As crazy as it sounds I viewed exactly the same property whilst living in the one next door. They are identical inside. Empty room I currently occupy seemed much bigger. I almost thought it was substantially larger.

Only if you actually compare it to your current living space you can gauge the size of the property.

Even without visiting property you can survey the area yourself. Check if it's safe and quiet.

I would say you can learn a lot even without visiting the property itself. You can also miss a lot of information, because of the buzz you get when visiting the property.

No

Vendors are being way OTT. When viewing you wear gloves and masks, all doors are open and lights are left on

You don't touch anything!

The vendors may be Extremely Vulnerable but they are crackers expecting people to buy without viewing

The sellers have unreasonable expectations.
If they don’t feel comfortable having anybody inside then they need to take it off the market and try again when they feel more confident.
It’s fine to ask potential buyers to do a virtual tour as a starting point but you can’t expect them to drop hundreds of thousands on something they haven’t even stepped into.

Not a chance. I wouldn't even rent a house on a monthly rolling contract without seeing it, let alone buy a house.
I would be concerned they were hiding somethings, otherwise why not a)allow viewings, or b)wait to put your house on the market until you feel comfortable with viewings.

No. Surely they can be out the house when people view which I was when people viewed my house last year.

I also went round cleaning touch points before and after a viewing.

Who was the builder ? I can understand why they can't ask people to mask up and open all the windows. Ridiculous you can't buy it without seeing it. No way, it's such a big purchase and new builds can have many faults I know I live in a five year old one

No way!

Yes, just in the process of buying without viewing.

We’ve had a virtual tour but the tenants are shielding due to their work situation so don’t expect to bother them with a viewing. We’ve got all the measurements and have walked around the exterior of the property (not in the garden etc). It’s also a new build by a reputable builder. Home buyers report/valuation all fine so planning to exchange in the next few weeks.

I saw a nice house today for auction but it had tenants in situ with a lifetime occupancy.

Who would buy that? How would that even work?

No. Also how will the survey be carried out? They need to flex on this.

I did!

Though my DH saw it and liked it. I didn’t want to move so refused to go with him even though it was only 6 miles away.

I knew the layout exactly so had no surprises there. Generally I'd say you do absolutely have to go see it. The happiness rate of people buying blind is probably very small!

I once went to view a rental which had wonderful pictures. When I got to the viewing the pictures were of a different house. Looked lovely on the outside. Inside the kitchen units were from the 1950s at least, possibly earlier, there were vermin droppings everywhere. cracked floor tiles. Cobwebs. Rusty shower, cracked bath. Yellow sink. There was a large structural crack in a bedroom wall, about an inch wide, the adjoining wall to next door, ran from upstairs to downstairs, only I didnt know before I went upstairs because the crack was concealed by a floor to ceiling cupboard in a rather odd space.
They'd already had the cleaners in apparently 🤣
500 pound a month they wanted. The going rate on that street was 400, so naturally I was expecting perfection.
Reported them to environmental health. Took pictures.
I laugh about it now but God I was shocked. Literally ran to the shower when I got home.
I'd never buy without viewing. Incidentally, the neighbouring house was up for sale at the same time. I wonder if it sold.