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Original poster

First viewing tomorrow! do people open kitchen cupboards and fitted wardrobes?!

48 replies

passmethewineplease · 27/08/2014 10:45

So first viewing tomorrow, was just wondering if people do the above?

I'm nervous and it's not even our house really, it's the in laws.

Any tips?

OP posts:
AnnOnymity · 27/08/2014 11:11

I haven't had anyone do this, nor have I done it when viewing, but I have read on MN that people do.

More likely on a second viewing that first, maybe?

BaronessBomburst · 27/08/2014 11:15

I do if I like it. I have a jolly good poke around and look at all kinds of things. By the second viewing I've got the measuring tape out.
If not I just walk from room to room smiling politely.

BeyoncesCat · 27/08/2014 11:22

Yep! I'm a part time
Estate agent and if its the first time were seeing the house we do this. It's helpful when trying to sell a "cosy" (small) house to use the storage as an advantage. Grin

bloodyteenagers · 27/08/2014 11:24

Yes. How else are you going to see if the doors work. If there's actual shelves inside units. If there's mould?
All done on the first viewing. Mentally adding up all this costs to rectify.
If there's a second viewing its because I am uncertain about that and other property.

LoblollyBoy · 27/08/2014 11:35

I open actual cupboards ("presses", under stairs, linen cupboards etc.) but not kitchen cabinets. I think it would depend on the scale of the fitted wardrobes whether I considered them to be cupboards.

CremeEggThief · 27/08/2014 11:40

Yes, to judge the space available. I would also flush all your toilets and check your taps and showers, as I can't bear low water pressure!

Original poster
passmethewineplease · 27/08/2014 11:43

Right best get deluttering the junk drawer!

Wish me luck!

OP posts:
LoblollyBoy · 27/08/2014 13:27

To be fair, pass, when I open these things they are always absolutely brimming with stuff, as they have been filled with things that were clearly never meant to be kept in cupboards to make the rooms look bigger. I don't judge this!

specialsubject · 27/08/2014 15:49

yes. All doors and cupboards will be opened.

that's how we found that one house had some shocking plumbing and valves held in place with screwdrivers!

museumum · 27/08/2014 15:51

Not kitchen units but proper cupboards yes, how else would you know if they were four inches deep or walk-in size?

happylittlevegemites · 27/08/2014 15:56

Always. I don't judge if they are brimming with stuff, but if they are really grotty (one house had a really grimy cutlery drawer, ugh) then I will take that into account.

Bowlersarm · 27/08/2014 15:57

I probably wouldn't on a first viewing. Would for a second viewing though.

WhatWouldCaitlinDo · 27/08/2014 16:02

We were looking for a "fixer upper" so when we were house hunting I tried to get a decent view on how much money would need to be spent on a place. I was utterly shameless about having a good poke around - it is the most money you will ever spend in your life, and suddenly finding out that the kitchen cupboards are falling apart or that the doors don't line up is more than annoying, it could be a big cost.

I usually did a quick whizz around to decide if the house was a "possible".

Then if I liked it, I went around again slowly and looked at things like:

  • quality of fittings such as cupboards / wardrobes (open them and have a good nose; do the doors fit, match, what condition is the inside in)
  • age and condition of windows and carpets
  • do the electrics look ancient (old style plug sockets, yellowing switches, etc)
  • any signs of damp (watermarks, mould) or patches of fresh paint where the owners were trying to cover something up
  • age, quality and condition of kitchen appliances (again, opening things up, having a poke, etc)
  • does the boiler look ancient
  • I had a good sniff in every room; did it smell musty / damp. Or was there a really strong air freshener smell that could be hiding something?
  • I also flushed loos and ran taps to listen for funny noises / crap water pressure
  • stand in the garden and have a look at the outside; what does the roof look like? You're just looking for irregularities, missing slates, leaning chimney, etc. Does anything else look funny from the outside.

This was all on a first viewing. I brought a notebook and wrote down questions and queries. Then on a second viewing I was looking for specifics.

So when we bought our house, there were no real surprises in the survey - we had a decent idea of what it would say.

iseenodust · 27/08/2014 16:06

We're on the market & no-one has done it so far. I open the understairs cupboard & and airing cupboard to show storage. I would think they were weird if they wanted to open my wardrobe.

Pinkfrocks · 27/08/2014 16:09

Goodness- I think that's terrible behaviour.

I've never opened any cupboards in anyone's house and never would.

I'd not dream of opening a wardrobe door, or a kitchen cupboard- on the basis that you can see the size from the outside and possibly change them anyway.

what a lot of rude buyers around.

Pinkfrocks · 27/08/2014 16:11

If you feel that you MUST then surely you ask the buyer first if it's okay?

bloodyteenagers · 27/08/2014 16:18

Why is it rude?
Unless you open a cupboard door in the kitchen, you don't know what is behind it. You could be lucky. You might find yourself looking at a problem. Changing a kitchen costs money, and people like to factor this in when buying.

I learned all this when I was younger. Went on a viewing with a friend. The kitchen cupboards where empty shell, and the shells were badly damaged. Drawers would not open, or fell apart. A door came off when opening. Then there was the built in wardrobe. Looked big and impressive. Full of damp and not big enough to hold a coat hanger. It had been built, very badly, most of the door came off when opening, because it was cheaper than dealing with the damp problem. From opening doors, over 10k worth of issues was found.

I also flush toilet. Run taps. Open and close windows. Open and close internal doors. Look at electrics. Tank. Even go into the loft if there is one. All because of that viewing.

Pinkfrocks · 27/08/2014 16:26

It's rude because anyone will 2 eyes- or even 1 eye- can see the depth and height of a cupboard from the outside. Look at how far they project from the wall to the front edge. Measure, if you wish too. Most kitchen units and cupboards ,unless made to measure , are standard sizes.

Damp etc is what is picked up during a survey. You don't go poking around at the back of people's cupboards looking for damp- surely???

It should be quite clear from the age of the kitchen units whether they are likely to need replacing. Most people replace anyway for taste.

I would ask the owner- gently- if they would open a cupboard so I could see inside. I would not help myself. I would be very annoyed if a buyer did this in my home.

bloodyteenagers · 27/08/2014 16:30

So unless you open a door, how to assess something that is floor to ceiling unless you have x-ray vision. Like a lot of build in wardrobes are. If they are floor to ceiling or almost, and wall to wall there is no way to assess this.
Same with units built into alcoves. Not all alcoves are the same size.

museumum · 27/08/2014 16:33

There are two ways you can work out how deep our hall cupboard is - you can measure the hall and the kitchen and the external wall and subtract the visible space from the overall external measurement...
Or you can just open it.

I know which I would prefer...

Actually I've just realised you can't measure the hall and kitchen because there is also a cupboard in the kitchen back to back with the hall cupboard, so there is literally no way you can tell how much of the invisible volume belongs to the hall cupboard and how much to the kitchen cupboard.

CremeEggThief · 27/08/2014 16:35

Of course it's not rude! Just good common sense.

That said, I'm sure most people would say "Mind if I have a look, please" or similar.

Original poster
passmethewineplease · 27/08/2014 16:35

I'm not too fussed about it generally as the units have only just been done anyway it's more the clutter in them that worries me. I have honestly found it bloody hard to keep it a family home and a home where it is clutter free.

Swear if it weren't for the dc, it would be spotless. honest

I'm going to try and tidy and hide some of the junky stuff we have but don't use everyday I think. God knows where, might have to store it at the in-laws!

OP posts:
Pinkfrocks · 27/08/2014 16:35

Doh- if they are floor to ceiling then the doors presumably will be floor to ceiling. You ASK the vendor. You READ the details from the EA too.

But the real answers to your questions should be from the EA- they produce the details and they should state what the rooms contain.

I think you've a bloody nerve opening people's cupboard and seeing all their clothes and God knows what else is in- suppose you poke around a bathroom cabinets too just to see how much it can hold?

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 27/08/2014 16:37

Yes, they do. I remember when we were selling our first house, a viewer opened the door to the large walk in cupboard at the top of the stairs and all the junk that I'd quickly shoved in there in an effort to make the house look tidy fell out!

Redpolkadotpot · 27/08/2014 16:38

I have opened cupboards before, usually one where it is built in and you can't judge how far back it goes, but normally as the agent is nearby I will just ask if it okay.
I think it is reasonable, especially to look at electrics, plumbing and obvious damp and so on, we're not talking about a pair of shoes that you can return, for most people a house will be the most money you'll ever spend !
When we sold we also have people doing it and although it felt intrusive I can understand the reasoning.