Viewing a flat tomorrow - any top tips?

[MrBobLoblaw]

DP and I are off to view a flat tomorrow and I'd love to know if there's anything specific you think I should look out for/ask the agent.

DP bought our current flat when we were first dating so, whilst I was present for viewings, it was him spearheading it so I'm a bit green behind the ears.

I want to check the heating system and ask about the garage (if there's potential to let it out as we don't have a car). Also the maintenance fees etc weren't available on the sheet so I also want to check that.

If it helps to know our situation- we're buying a place that we can grow in to as I'm currently pg and we have a toddler.

Any suggestions or experiences are gratefully received!

Looks lovely. Noise levels would be a concern for me. Does the flat above you have carpets and is this s role (hopefully). Visit at different times of the day to check on noise too. Even late at night! Also def ride the loft up to top floors. Is it near and tidy or smelling of weed?!

Glad you all like the look of it. Think we might have some competition as they're having an open day.

I also have concerns about the external door @Magstermay especially as it's apparently the only flat with a door out to the shared garden so it does pose a risk. Going to give it a good look over. Also not sure if the windows are double glazed so want to check that.

What is s role @Springiscomingsoon? I have a feeling most of the flats have the same original flooring so could be an issue when it comes to noise. Will definitely try and have a quiet listen at some point though. The lifts probably do smell of weed.. the whole of south London does my downstairs neighbour smokes it all the bloody time and I can't stand the stench.

If it’s in the dulwich estate what your service fees will be. Check if there’s a communal washing line near the flat. That might govern if you spend your summer days looking out at other people’s pants drying.

We’ve got a similar set up in terms of ground floor flat and garden access. Bloody marvellous- over 90% of the year its just us and then on really hot days you get the odd millennial lying non-chatlantly in a bikini outside your kitchen window, or someone doing weird yoga. It makes us laugh. You have to be chilled about that but if you have young kids most people will not use it as no appeal to sit on a lawn outside someone else’s flat being interrogated by a 4 yr old.

I think it is on the dulwich estate @YetAnotherThing so I'm concerned the service fee might be the downside here as I expect it might be pretty hefty. And good point about the washing line! The location couldn't be more perfect for us and I just love the style of the flat. Not sure if we'll have to go in above the asking price but I suppose we'll have to see what we think it's worth tomorrow.

Service fees, pending works, how the management company functions. Those are your biggies.
We lived somewhere similar and they charged us many thousands for stuff we didn't care about and had no control over. Every year a new bill- entry system upgrade, double glazing, doors etc etc This was because owner occupiers subsidised the housing association tenants. We had to move to escape when we got wind that they wanted to upgrade all the cladding on the flats, it would have destroyed us financially. Also, the people upstairs bought a Labrador puppy.
So- lovely looking flat but beware

Flat looks lovely. I wouldn’t be thinking about offering above asking price in the current climate- very unlikely they’d even hope for that in current climate! If you love it and mortgage valuation says it worth it and you can afford it, offer asking price on the condition of immediately being taken off the market and no more viewings. I do think people are prepared for offers under asking price at the moment even more than normal because of Brexit.

Thanks @Cyberworrier. I agree but I'm going to try and gauge the interest in it this morning. It's so hard to know in this climate and I hope we won't have too much trouble selling our flat!

Armed with my list- excited to see the property in the flesh!

It doesn't look like it has double glazing. Just a word of caution you will need planning permission to change the windows and might not automatically get it.

I love it though, super flat!

Yes I also noticed that it's single glazed too @oliviabenson. I think the building might be protected so I don't think we'd be allowed to change the windows to double glazing anyway, something to think about. I'll try and feel how cold it is!

I'd have a good nose inside that cupboard in the kitchen to see if there's any way of removing it as it really cuts in to the space. There might be pipes running down inside it.
You can also Google to see if you can find old details of others flats in block to see it they still have that cupboard.

Lovely flat. Don't forget to update us OP!

It’s a nice flat, lots of light.

The BIGGEST worry about the glass is whether it’s SAFETY glass or not. If it’s not you’re looking at quite a bit of money to replace it, but you might not be allowed to. I wouldn’t move in with children if it’s not safety glass.

However, the flat would be a no from me, without even viewing it, unless you could buy the communal garden & make it private. I would not want direct access to my flat from a communal garden. I wouldn’t even be able to go for a wee with the door unlocked, let alone let DS play out there on his own. You might think that’s not a problem right now, but when you have to bring him in and shut the door every time you want to feed/change/put to bed the baby...

Ah I know that block! It’s nice, good location and lots of light. Good transport links and you can walk to other lines if needed.

So cool to have the ground floor flat with direct garden access BUT I am pretty sure that is shared not private.

Not sure about that kitchen layout - seems a bit low of kitchen cupboards.

I’d put your kido in bed one, or get up a second door before study and bed 2 so there is more sound separation between the TV and child’s bedroom.

Seems to be priced well I think.

However, the flat would be a no from me, without even viewing it, unless you could buy the communal garden & make it private

Zero chance around these blocks.

Anyway, direct access onto shared gardens is infinitely better than no access onto nothing and having to go to the park every time you want a run around.

Not a whole lot of properties so well located, spacious and light PLUS a private garden for £450.

Viewed the flat.. along with every other young couple in SE London
It's just as lovely as the photos, so bright and spacious and lovely views outside in to the (beautiful!) shared garden (not bothered by the fact that it's shared. Currently we have a 1m square concrete block so anything is an improvement!!)

Service charge is insane though and reaaaallly expensive. So that's a downer. EA also said that they only put it on at £450k to get people through the door for the open day but the vendor will only accept offers at £460k min as they've already had 2 offers at that price. So we're giving it all a good think over.

Other good points: sooo much storage and the kitchen built in cupboards were really deep and spacious. Lovely quiet leafy area and close to transport, our family and friends. Back door does pose a risk but apparently the vendor has never had any trouble in the 14 years she's been there.

Single glazed though so would have to have secondary glazing (it's a conservation building so could dbl glaze it). Also their gas and electric bill a month was huge!!

It sounds like it’ll go for even more than £460.

I understand that a communal garden is better than no garden, I just wouldn’t want other people to have direct access to my flat, especially with a baby & a toddler and I’d never feel able to let them play out there for even 5 minutes on their own when anyone could let themselves in.

It’s a shame because it’s a lovely light flat

I'd hate the idea of a communal garden right outside my huge picture window, I'd feel like I was living in a goldfish bowl.

I also imagine in summer it could get unbearably hot if all that glazing is S/SW facing and getting the sun all afternoon and evening.

I'd give it a miss OP I'd hate the thought of anyone being metres from my living room window in the communal garden and the panelling and single glazing just looks like a freezing condensation nightmare at least 4 months of the year.

Agree about those huge single glazed windows looking cold. That's very thick urtains they have!

And the ripply glass on the sliding door will almost definitely not be safety glass.

I must have lived in the city long enough for the communal garden and being over looked not to bother me at all, in fact I love the garden and the fact that we wouldn't have to do any maintenance to it!

I agree though about the single glazing being an issue. Other flats have secondary glazing so that's something we'd consider if our offer was accepted.

Hopefully we'll hear back from the vendor today, we put in our offer last night.

With you on the negatives being outweighed by the positives! London is always a compromise.

Good luck!

Honestly check how much work it needs. We viewed a property and Ds noticed a big hole in between floorboards and skirting board and mentioned that's where mice lived. Low and behold we took the property, was empty for further 2weeks, day we moved in we found mouse droppings then a week or so later caught a mouse going to that very hole!

Didn't see any mouse holes @Hungrymamabear! But would be a good excuse to get a cat

Did you hear back about you offer OP?