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Original poster

how do you physically view houses when they are far away from where you live? like, for moving house

78 replies

nailpolish · 12/01/2007 14:39

dragging the girls around house viewings is bad enough without the houses being 2 - 2.5 hrs away initially

how do we do it?

dh lives in the city we (think) we will be moving to?

do i Trust Him to view these houses alone?

what did you do

god i WISH i could call on Phil and Kirstie

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 14:41

Virtual tour the first time, then for real the second?

iota · 12/01/2007 14:41

You line up a series of viewings for the same day and make a day trip there

Repeat as necessary

fannyannie · 12/01/2007 14:41

If you really don't trust your DH to do the intial viewings and 'narrow' them down perhaps see if you can arrange for several viewings on the same day - so that a long trip with the girls won't have to be repeated too often?????

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 14:44

it would be silly not to despatch dh off for initial viewings wouldnt it? he could go in his lunch hour

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FrayedKnot · 12/01/2007 14:44

Shortlist 4-5 houses to see each day over a weekend, go & stay in wherever for the weekend, see tham all...hope you can decide on one of them

That's what we did..

There is NO WAY I would let DH alone make the decision on a house I might be living in for any length of time.

FrayedKnot · 12/01/2007 14:45

Yes DH did drive-by's on my instructions, narrowed down our list

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 14:46

you mean stay in like a travelodge or sommat?

i quite like that idea

the dds would love that!

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expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 14:46

I couldn't trust DH to do viewings.

Oh no!

That man doesnt see dirt, for one.

LIZS · 12/01/2007 14:47

Presumably it is a joint decision so if he doesn't like a house or lcoation it would n't be a go-er anyway. Taking kids along is a nightmare, for viewer and vendor alike - could you arrange a babysitter for the day you see the shortlist ?

Fimbo · 12/01/2007 14:48

When dh (then dp) moved to Glasgow, I used to get the bus on a Friday night and meet him up there, we did multiple viewings and then he drove us back.

Could you get your mum to have the girls on a Saturday and do viewings then?

mrsflowerpot · 12/01/2007 14:51

oh I feel for you, we are about to have to do the same thing in a couple of months .

We are planning to go with the 'do as many in a day trip as possible' method too.

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 14:54

i like that idea fimbo

most viewing seem to be a thurs night or sun afternoon tho

although i suppose we could phone the sols and arrange for a fri night?

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Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 14:55

im also a bit scared of viewing at night in the dark

we bought a ghastly flat in portobello on a wet windy january night

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expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 15:01

i once bought a flat sight unseen.

it worked out, but i wouldn't do that here!

Bluebear · 12/01/2007 15:11

I'm getting dh to do the first viewings (digital camera in hand) - we did a weekend drive about to look at various locations...and he's only asked me to look at two of the ones he's viewed - one was pretty awful - the other one we put an offer in on.
I found 'internet viewing' very frustrating as the estate agents are good at cutting the sewage works next door out of the shot etc.

expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 15:17

These days, I have to go in and see the place myself most definitely, to see what type of vibe I pick up, too.

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 15:24

dh and i have moved house many many times and we pretty much have good ideas what the other likes/wants, BUT i am a fussy bitch and i think dh has a secret liking for new build whereas i tend to prefer quirkiness and character. but he knows that! and hes a darling so i think i can trust him (?)

also, we know Edinburgh pretty well, know which areas we like and those we would avoid at all costs, i know Ed more than dh though

good idea about the digital camera

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 15:26

i am having sleepless nights over the location versus size of the house

live more centrally (which i would love so much) in a smaller place or out of town a bit with more rooms

argh

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expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 15:27

I'd go w/more room EVERY time.

Hence, why I prefer older flats. They tend to be more spacious than new builds.

You can just tell, walking into one, which is a no-go.

At least, I can.

expatinscotland · 12/01/2007 15:28

Schools, of course, override everything.

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 15:29

expat

its basically a 3bed more out of town or a 2 bed nearer town

also the size of the garden gets bigger the more out of town you go

as you would expect i suppose

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 15:29

god YES ive been over the schools so much its becoming blurred

what are the schools like near newhaven? do yuou know?

OP posts:
mellowma · 12/01/2007 15:29

Message withdrawn

Original poster
nailpolish · 12/01/2007 15:35

so

draw up a list from ESPC

arm dh with camera and map

draw up shortlist and try to see as many of these on a day trip, stay over if poss

thanks everyone x

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wurlywurly · 12/01/2007 15:37

my parents had this problem, they lived in Essex and wanted to move to Norfolk. They did virtual tours online and when they found some that they liked they arrranged a few viewing for one day and would drive up in the morning view all the properties and then drive back in the evening.

I wouldnt let dh (as much as i trust him) pick a house without viewing it myself first