Is it normal to view the house you’re buying more than once?

[whatsthatnow74]

We are at the point of exchange (next week fingers crossed) and our buyer wants to come over to measure up for blinds or some such.

They have been three times already, twice before putting in their offer and then again mid way through the conveyancing process.

We’ve only viewed the house we’re buying once and I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for repeated visits in the current situation or in any situation really.

I think our buyer’s a bit cheeky! I’ve agreed to all visits as I don’t want to discourage them.

I'd not commit to spending the price of a house, after just one look round, no. I would ALWAYS do a second viewing before putting an offer in.
Then, it isn't unusual to come round to check some measurements - n your case for blinds, but equally for some other detail - furniture perhaps.
Then it isn't unusual for nice vendors to invite their buyers in to show them where the stop cock is, show them how to programme the boiler, and all the little quirks that would be helpful to know - obvs - this could be combined, so only need 3 visits really

Beyond that, then it is intrusive and moving towards unreasonable for a straightforward sale, IMO.

We saw 3 times. Twice before we offered and the third afterwards. Theirs was sort of their request asbthey had some antique things they had not included in the sale and wanted to see if we would buy them. We didn't but it gave us a chance to check a few things as well

I've bought 3 houses. First one I took a friend to see it on second viewing as I was buying on my own, and there was an issue with chimney breast removal I wanted to check. Bought second and third houses with DH and we only viewed both once. We were both of a mind that there would be no point checking over lots of details - we knew there would be work to do to get it right for us and had no intention of changing our minds about the purchase. We were also both firmly in the camp of not finding out the sex of our DC until birth - although obviously not the same thing I think there are similarities. I wanted to look forward to moving in without filling up my head with too much information beforehand. That might sound like bollocks but it works for us.

Twice or even three times, normal.
Once, blimey...I’ve gone to look at sofas I’m thinking of buying twice.
It’s the biggest purchase most people ever make.

We did 3. First viewing to see if we liked the house 2nd went back with someone who could tell us if a wall could be knocked down to make the kitchen open once we confirmed that it could be we put in an offer. 3rd time to take measurements.

I find it really weird that people would measure for curtains and carpets before they even own the house - why can't it wait until you move in???? Fair enough large building works but fixtures and fittings would piss me off

You expect someone to commit themselves to one of their biggest ever purchases, on the strength of one viewing? I looked at a set of dinner plates twice before I decided I would definitely buy them...

Pre-Covid house i s’ils buyers came/needed access maybe 8 times -
First viewing
Second viewing
Third viewing with family members who included an architect family member
Survey
3x follow up specialist survey/quotes - renegotiated price
(Exchange)
Measuring visit for furniture curtains etc
(Completed)

Totally no problem. Always respectful about when and we agreed between ourselves times etc. Never messed me abkut. Always grateful. Knew they were serious from start. Knew they had big plans so of course They needed to be confident they could realise them. The survey uncovered something which explain the 3 further specialist surveys and quotes. Did have luxury of several other offers and high demand for house in the background.

Can’t imagine visiting once and feeling you couldn’t visit again !
Even in Covid times.

I would say that twice is normal (once for a general look round and again to measure for curtains, etc) but much more than that and it becomes a pain in the backside.

My last buyer was such a damn nuisance (and that's putting it politely) that the EA almost kicked her out, not wanting to do business with her any more. They put up with tears and tantrums which didn't of course materialise until it was too late to start again with a new buyer. I will always resent her behaviour as it made the difficult process of buying and selling a fecking nightmare.

1st viewing time check it was a goer. Second with professional to check it could have necessary adaptations made.

Offer put in.

Third viewing after exchange with children to show them where their bedrooms would be etc.

Perfectly happy to accommodate similar; if someone is wanting to buy them do building work makes sense to have a take builder come and check it’s feasible. Or if have parents helping with depositi, for them to check it’s financially viable. Etc.

I was happy to wait to measure up but then I’m still using some of the curtains 18 years later. If it were very overlooked and you were taking your current window coverings with you then yes I’d want to measure up to get new ones on order ASAP, minimise the amount of time spent stapling sheets to the curtain rail.

Blimey I’ve been visiting fridges for 6 months humming hawing between two. Old one still working but on last legs. I must have looked at curry’s and so website 20 times !
No way would I buy a house with one initial view.

We've just sold and are in the process of buying a house. I've viewed twice, dh hasn't seen it (a different country) but if he could travel he would go and see it. Closer to the time I'd love to be able to measure certain areas of the house properly so that I can order furniture. We're likely to have a few weeks between exchange and completion.

This house we saw twice before putting in an offer but a third time much later to measure up etc. Any more than that is taking the piss a bit I think unless there is a very good reason.

I think 4 times is starting to get excessive and intrusive OP. Twice before offer - ok. Once after offer - yes that's fine if it suits. But more than that then they're starting to take the piss IMO. It may be my personal opinion but I hate it when purchasers want to come and measure up for curtains etc. Just bloody wait until you're in the house - I find it shows disregard for someone's home (yes it is still my home even though you are buying it).

We viewed three times, once alone, once showing my parents who were loaning us a small portion of our deposit, then once again for measurements and so on.

It was empty though (although obviously meant the estate agents had to come each time to open up!)

I can’t imagine viewing just once, it’s a massive decision!

I did two visits, one to view ahead of purchase, one once we had exchanged to measure curtains

Goodness me, OP - the biggest spend of a lifetime and you think x4 viewings excessive

Maybe put in the particular “1 VIEWING ONLY ALLOWED - 2ND VIEWING AVAILABLE AT SELLER’S DISCRETION

Don’t understand how someone you know will be in your house asking to measure is ‘showing disregard for someones home’ - they’ve shown ultimate regard by buying it ! but I do understand it can be sensitive I guess.
If I’ve exchanged then I consider the house in handover period.

I think 2 viewings is reasonable. I don’t think 4 viewings is reasonable, especially during COVID

I'd view a property at least twice before I offered, and try to do it at different times of the day. As for coming to measure - they should leave that until after they've exchanged.
I had one family view my house a few times and after we agreed the price they kept on coming back - I was patient but when they asked to come and I said no as I was moving that day and things were in disarray they were still pretty insistent! I said no way.

Err yes. I'm paying £380k for a house currently, we had two viewings before putting in an offer then went back once everything was going through to check against the fixtures and fittings list and measure gaps for furniture, appliances etc

Ps vendors gave me their mobile and said I'm free to pop around with a tape measure once we get close to completion, it's totally normal to visit 3-4 times in total

Once or twice before offer, maybe once more before exchange, ideally at the same time as a surveyor. When we bought a house needing lots of work (as in 10 years later it's just about done), we then had a final visit when the sellers demonstrated the heating and electrics did work (sort of).

Measuring for blinds etc is the sort of thing that should be done after exchange IMO, but given you don't want to put off your buyer until then, going along with one visit is probably best.

We are buying at the moment and have only viewed the house once. Did lots of on line research. It’s complicated by the fact it is 2.5 hours from where we live currently.

We are a bit disappointed at the moment though as we have asked to have another look after taking DS to uni next week as we will be half an hour away and so far they haven’t said yes. We are due to exchange next week and if we have exchanged I think they’ll agree but it’s a bit frustrating not to be able to plan. We will need to stay over nearby so need to book a hotel etc.

It’s particularly annoying as we got gazummped by quite a lot and ended up offering quite a bit more to secure the house. Our choice I know. However they are buying with double our budget and aren’t being allowed a second viewing on that till exchange too. And i suspect they are worried we would try to price down especially given we are paying so much over our initial offer.

And with selling our house I think at this stage I’d let a buyer look as often as they want if it would bloody sell it!

3 times for this house. Once after we had sealed the deal - the vendors were worried about letting us in again in case we changed our minds, but it was just to measure up.