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Property/DIY

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Original poster

How many times did you view your house before buying?

37 replies

Tigerblue · 29/04/2014 19:49

Just wondering how many times others look/do research on property they are buying/bought?

We've looked at our new house to be four times. We looked twice, our sale fell through, so 7 weeks later when we had a procedable sale went back to look again to make sure it's how we remembered. We've just gone back for our fourth viewing just before we buy, just because we're excited, not because we really needed to. We are lucky to live quite close (two mins walk away) so I've walked up the road nearly every week because I'm excited and also to check out things raised on survey. Vendors have seen me!!

The couple buying our house have only viewed twice. They still seem interested in that they've suggested the final completion date. Haven't got a clue how they are and none of the neighbours have seen anyone driving past slowly, eyeing the place up.

I suppose there's no right or wrong. Perhaps some people don't like to look too much in case it doesn't work out.

OP posts:

MissBetseyTrotwood · 29/04/2014 20:00

We saw it 4 times. Mainly because in a few years time ILs/DM may be living here too and we wanted them to see it.

When the surveyor for our buyers came round ours he said he has done loads of surveys where the buyer specifies they want the survey done in daylight. Because they had only seen the house they were about to buy in the dark!

Bowlersarm · 29/04/2014 20:05

Once before we offered, then once after we had exchanged.

AnythingNotEverything · 29/04/2014 20:07

We viewed twice before making an offer, and then took an electrician friend and a surveyor friend back to help us decode the stuff on the survey.

Definitely worth it.

TalkinPeace · 29/04/2014 20:08

three houses
three offers while looking around for the first time

Original poster

Tigerblue · 29/04/2014 20:09

I never thought about asking a surveyor to do a survey in the light, but it's a good idea as you don't get a proper look at anything you might want then. We didn't plan it, but we have been lucky to look at our new house at 6.30pm (dark), 11am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

OP posts:

BillStickersIsInnocent · 29/04/2014 20:09

I didn't even view inside ours until the offer was accepted. DH did, and I looked through the windows (unoccupied property)

I wouldn't recommend this route!

peggyundercrackers · 29/04/2014 20:11

I have only viewed each house I have bought once before making a successful offer, next time I seen them was when i got the keys to the house.

Shockers · 29/04/2014 20:15

Twice before making an offer, twice more before completing to get quotes for work. The property was empty though.

BadRoly · 29/04/2014 20:17

Twice. But we lived 250 miles away. I saw it online and wanted it, viewed it at the start of a 5 day house hunting trip and was ultra critical. Viewed it at the end of the 5 day house hunting trip and still wanted it so made an offer.

4 years down the line I have absolutely no regrets!

Madmog · 29/04/2014 20:18

My husband was the one who really wanted to move, so said I'd want to look at any possibility more than once, so looked twice before making final offer (although we did express immediately we were interested after first viewing). Haven't exchanged yet, but have gone back one more time just to see it again and check if our curtains will fit (sounds silly I know, but was wondering). Although, I didn't want to move and am still really happy in present home, I know it's a good move to make.

HerRoyalNotness · 29/04/2014 20:19

Only once. Then a walk through just before signing contract.

DH didn't even see it. Just as well he likes it

SixImpossible · 29/04/2014 20:20

I viewed the first place I bought at least 3-4 times, possibly more, as I was not sure about it.

I viewed the second place I bought once (dh's second viewing) before putting in an offer. It felt so right for us.

But: we took many photographs, pored over floorplans and the LA's area plans, and asked zillions of questions during the conveyancing.

I think I came again to see it after our offer had been accepted, but I don't really remember!

sewingandcakes · 29/04/2014 20:21

Once, on both occasions.

MrsJohnDeere · 29/04/2014 20:51

Twice. Dh hadn't seen it at all until we moved.

ZingWatermelon · 29/04/2014 20:55

once. walked through the door and I wanted it.

about to exchange this week and moving in 3 weeks. can't wait

Stokes · 29/04/2014 20:59

Viewed it twice and then offered. Didn't like it the first time for reasons we couldn't quite put our fingers on. Viewed it a second time when nothing much else was coming on the market, and saw it in a whole new light. Offer was accepted very quickly.

Survey was done by a relative so we tagged along for that, liked it even more.

Hoping to complete in three weeks, and may see if we can go back once more with a builder in tow to measure up for some renovations. We'll be back once anyway as the vendor has very nicely offered to leave us any furniture we'd like as she won't be taking any of it with her, so we're hoping she won't mind the builder tagging along.

CointreauVersial · 29/04/2014 23:54

Twice.

First time with DH, and we loved it on the spot, then we came back after offer accepted, with DM, DS, and DD1. We took loads of photos the second time.

DD2 didn't see it until the day we moved in.

RCheshire · 30/04/2014 01:29

First purchase was a flat - nothing complicated - viewed it twice, second time to perform due diligence checks - check electrics worked, water pressure, heating, take measurements etc.

Second was a house needing work. About 5-6 times. A couple of times ourselves, once with a builder, once with surveyor, one with both plumber and timber/damp surveyor...maybe another.

Unless you're buying a new build I don't understand people who view only once. Does that mean you're really thorough on your first visit and check everything, or that you take it on faith that electrics all work, shower pressure, heating is ok, windows open etc etc? I've worked in a number of countries and here people often seem so casual about spending hundreds of thousands often with less checks than would be performed on a car.

Boleh · 30/04/2014 02:29

Once but I had seen probably 30 properties by that point and so I was pretty clear what I did and didn't want! Also I was in Scotland so a half decent survey is provided by the seller, not the buyer.

frenchfancy · 30/04/2014 07:57

Once, for about 15 minutes (and about 10 of that was in the gardens/outbuildings).

UniS · 30/04/2014 08:02

once before offer1. which was turned down. A year later we made offer 2 with out re viewing. That was accepted. Went and had another look before contracts exchanged. It was a nice surprise that the sellers had decorated two of the bedrooms in the intervening year.

Clayhead · 30/04/2014 08:18

Once each time.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 30/04/2014 08:20

Once before we offered, once again after the survey, thats it.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 30/04/2014 08:22

I saw it once before offering. DH went back and saw it again after we exchanged.

worldgonecrazy · 30/04/2014 08:28

Once has always been enough for me to know if I like the house. If the survey showed up anything major then I would have a rethink (only happened once) but I think that sometimes you just "know" that you like the space, light and feel in a building.

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