First ever house viewing, how do I avoid making it obvious I know nothing?

[justshruggingreally]

Off to look at a house nearby with DP today, we currently rent. We decided to look a while ago then this property came up, it fits all our wants (on paper at least).

I wish we'd been round a few crap houses already because I'm worried it's going to be blindly obvious we've never done this before... I've been reading a library book on house buying but it wasn't great, and I've got a list of questions together after asking friends and also Money Saving Expert.

Does anyone have any tips for approaching this viewing? Is it better to keep our cards close to our chest in terms of our financial situation/how much we do or don't like the place? Or am I overthinking it?

Also, our plan was to have a decent look round and if we do like it, to arrange a second viewing where we go through the smaller details, trying taps and testing hot water, etc. Is this standard behaviour?

Finally, the house has been on the market for about 6 weeks. Would this suggest it's not being fought over or is housebuying so slow that they could be fielding lots of interest but none have been finalised?

Apologies for so many questions, I'm so keen to do this right. Thanks for reading!

Renovated to buy to let standards? That'll be complete new bathroom, full wiring check, gas safe, total repaint, new taps, new light fittngs, new fascias and soffits, thick loft insulation, new curtains all round, scrubbed throughout. Good luck finding that in a property you are buying.

And all done again within three years after a tenant triple whammy.

Or is it just me ?

Oops, specialsubject, didn't mean to offend. I meant more that the bare minimum has been spent on everything. So what looked like a bathroom that needed no work in photos is actually all a bit flimsy, cheap fittings etc. We're up for working on a place but not when it's been done in the last few years.

I've also been living in rented accommodation for over a decade and the main reason I want to buy is to escape always having the cheapest version of everything, repairs being done cheaply instead of properly and maintenance being neglected. The thought of more of the same is a bit soul-crushing.

What about a new build?

I am in one now and after years of patching up our old house its wonderful. It was rather expensive but on a very small development and has a large garden in a very beautiful part of the country

I think you'll find that people who live cheaper houses generally do so because they have less money than they more expensive houses.... so you still get cheap fittings!

5rivers that is a fair point! The kitchen was really nicely done, the bathroom, doors and carpet wouldn't have been a deal breaker except for other issues, especially the damp smell.

Hillingdon at this point we want to stay in our neighbourhood in a big city, it's dense and terraced (and cheap). Can well imagine we might be keen to escape old houses with no gardens in a few years though

Who rattled your cage, special subject?

What you need to look for will depend on the age and maintenance of the property. I have looked at a few conversions where they have tried to shove as much in to make it sound better on paper. I turned my 2 bed flat with "open plan living room and kitchen" into a 1 bed as there was no way it was big enough for 2 bed. Also, make sure the kitchen layout works and is well fitted. Can you open the oven and fridge at the same time, do the cupboard doors close without lift and shove.

Do try the taps. I was happy with the water pressure from the upstairs sink until I tried to run the bath taps and nothing came out. That was a fun 9 months until i had saved enough to get the bathroom done!

We viewed our bungalow and liked it but wanted a second viewing. The property was empty because the elderly man was going into care. The decor was old fashioned but this didn't bother us. The carpets were grubby, but no sorry as they would be coming up. Second viewing, no water coming from taps, further investigation showed some pipes had been cut in attic due to frozen pipes. More reasons to cut the offer price ! We purchased it. Try not to be caught up in decor - location, location,location.

No bother, op.

Other person, sorry for not being a shit landlord. I know mn recognises no other kind.

Plastic pipes are fine, unless you're a traditionalist. They are certainly a way to save money as they are cheaper and quicker. Most people prefer the look of copper pipe so usually they do a short leg of copper on the visible bit.

If you are buying this is probably the biggest highest value purchase that you will ever make in your life. My suggestions take your time. View several properties for comparison. Make a list of what you ideally need eg number of bedrooms, parking, location, price, south facing garden, school, shops etc. If possible buy in the best location. You can look up crime rate statistics per postcode.

First time buyer I tried the taps - I'd seen it on TV, I was an expert from my viewing. Seller looked really worried when I did it.

What I didn't know is I should have tried the hot water tap as moved in 2 days before Christmas with a broken boiler that plumber said hadn't worked for a very long time!

This didn't come up on survey and they'd signed saying it was in working order. They were going bankrupt for the 2nd time so not much I could go after from them for the false sellers info. It was more the inconvenience that annoyed me.

To be honest if they'd told me it wasn't working I still would have purchased the house. Was just annoying they didn't say anything

One of the many properties we've viewed this week had been magnoliaed and a new kitchen fitted after being let out for a while - looked pristine in the photos. None of that detracted from plastic window on the garage only separated from the main house by a rather flimsy door, double glazing so old you could crowbar the panes out from outside and some of the electrical sockets being old yellowed plastic with no switches.

And the paint job was shite.

Another house we visited was OK internally, if poorly finished and badly maintained - think doors that are stuck, nasty yellow stained light fittings and blown double glazing. Nothing too arduous to fix, but then we had the back steps just like yours, just, about 6' up from the weed filled blocked paved "patio" below with only a single rusty handrail stopping anyone from falling off. We ruled that one right out! One of our criteria is a safe enclosed space for DS2 to be outside - not even a garden, just a safe space!

One house that's perfect in layout and on paper is irredeemably dark. I'm a bit sad about that one.

We think we've found The One, though and we're building up a pretty big list of things to forensically check on second viewing. It also wins outright on location, but is only marginally the msot expensive we've viewed - neighbouring house of a similar size sold for a lot less, last year so we might have some wiggle room given that this one has languished for a while, now.