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.

Just around the corner A developer is renovating a house that has been empty for a couple of years. Went on the market just as the builders went in. No photos just artists impressions sold within 2 weeks. Marketed for £800k. This was late November and the build is nearly finished.

Where we live there's lots of shared ownership new builds being reserved from just artists impressions.

(We might do the same this summer!)

I bought a house once without DH seeing it and DM has bought at least two houses that she didn’t see inside first. Her view is that if it’s the right size property in the right location the rest doesn’t matter because she always remodels anyway.

Surely they have to let a surveyor in? Could one of you go as her/his 'assistant?'

Had an update from the estate agent.

It’s actually a developer that’s selling the property. They have sold the house to developer and so I can sort of understand why they are saying to viewers. They have sold the house and so won’t be wanting exposed to the virus unnecessarily.

Well the developer won’t be able to sell it easily if no one can see inside

We're currently buying a house I haven't viewed...DH has. The first I'll see it is when we get the keys. But it's in the same village I live in now and ideal location for schools/work so it'll be fine.

But I'm also someone who buys clothes online without trying on, buys shoes without trying on, even bought my wedding dress online without trying it on, booked wedding for hotel I'd never visited...

I wouldn't buy a house unseen. Will they let a surveyor in, because there's no way I'd buy without a thorough survey either.

No

@OneStepInTheFuture

We're currently buying a house I haven't viewed...DH has. The first I'll see it is when we get the keys. But it's in the same village I live in now and ideal location for schools/work so it'll be fine.

But I'm also someone who buys clothes online without trying on, buys shoes without trying on, even bought my wedding dress online without trying it on, booked wedding for hotel I'd never visited...

Tho dh saw it

Would you have brought it if he hadn’t been inside

Clothes online. I buy all the time. Don’t like /fit you send back.

A house and many thousands is different

No I wouldn’t.

Yes, we did this. It was on the road we wanted, on a big plot and needed total renovation anyway. We knew that we could fix / change anything that needed doing. We put an offer in because we knew that it would go in a heartbeat. Had a battle to get it but don’t regret it for a moment.

@MindfulBitch

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?

@MindfulBitch

This might work, if you were buying a house as an investment. You would buy the house and the tenant would pay rent to you

@notanothertakeaway thanks, I saw another thread on here yesterday about the same thing so I have been reading this and looking up on the internet. It just sounds like a big risk!

You must be joking. Somerset estate agents are masters of photography, they can make any house look big and amazing when it is a complete dump.

For investment purposes I would and have done so, but not to live in.

@Longjohn33

Had an update from the estate agent.

It’s actually a developer that’s selling the property. They have sold the house to developer and so I can sort of understand why they are saying to viewers. They have sold the house and so won’t be wanting exposed to the virus unnecessarily.

So... they don't even live in it but won't let anyone view because of Covid? That doesn't make any sense at all. The estate agent would have the keys, they just need to unlock the door so people can follow the same rules being used to ensure people can safely view houses up and down the country. OP I really think there might be something wrong with this house that they're not showing you. We have a new-ish built house, we bought it after only one viewing, that seemed crazy enough!

If they won’t let anyone view it how will they allow a survey? How did they get photos done? I wouldn’t. I can see why in your circumstances it’s tempting but I’ve seen so many houses I loved from photos and drive bys and when I got inside I didn’t like them at all. It’s too important. Don’t be pushed.

This is what you could do though - make an offer on the provision that you need to view the house before instructing a survey but If you like it like you think you will then my offer is x. This will show you are serious buyer Rather than just bored and looking for legal ways to leave the house for the afternoon