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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Buying a house without viewing

36 replies

goldenshoe · 08/02/2021 12:41

Has anyone ever done this with a house they plan to live in? How did it turn out?

I was planning to start looking seriously in late spring/summer when I would be able to go and view but I've been keeping an eye on the market and (of course!) I've seen a great cottage in one of my preferred areas. My finances are already in place to buy so that's not a problem and I've pored over the schedule and virtual viewing and I'm about 95% certain this is a great house for me but I'm currently too far away to view it.

It's possible I could get a friend to go and look at it for me but it's not the same.

I've been keeping an eye on the market since last summer and this is the only place that's come up that I've really loved within budget. Arg!

OP posts:

whenwillthemadnessend · 16/02/2021 16:16

God no. I saw loads of house in 2019 before covid that looked great if paper but the horrors within were unbelievable. No no no

Buddywoo · 16/02/2021 16:16

When we were returning from Spain we bought a house without viewing. We had viewed many houses and for one reason or another they were not right. I then spotted this house on rightmove. It had only just come on to the market and it felt right and was also in our price range. It looked to be in a lovely small village in Oxfordshire, not an area I knew but in the vicinity of the area we had decided to move to.
My daughter viewed it for me the next day and we put in an offer which was accepted. I did view it myself before we exchanged contracts.
I have never regretted taking the chance.

Magstermay · 17/02/2021 20:21

How did you get on OP?

Original poster

goldenshoe · 23/02/2021 13:34

@Magstermay

How did you get on OP?

I had an offer accepted on the house yesterday!

I had a really thorough walk through with my friend via WhatsApp and I'm still convinced it's perfect for me. Last night was spent pinning interiors and looking at possible ways to extend - I'm very excited!

No move in date yet but I shall, of course, let you know how things look when I'm in

OP posts:

Chocolatehabit · 23/02/2021 14:01

Ooh how exciting! Good luck!

Ismellphantoms · 23/02/2021 17:07

It all sounds good to me. A cousin bought a house in Spain without viewing. He only saw a photo. It was amazing and a real bargain. A farmhouse with orchards, a pool and outbuildings. He sold it at a profit when house prices were plunging in Spain.

Years ago I was looking for a house for my adult children to live in. I'd just remarried and had moved into DH's house. I viewed loads and the only one I liked was too much and they wouldn't accept an offer. Months later the agent called and said they had massively dropped the price. I agreed to buy it there and then. I had forgotten what is was like it had been so long. Another fantastic bargain which a few years later I sold at three times what I paid for it.

Enjoy your new house PP.

Original poster

goldenshoe · 02/04/2021 10:53

Update!

My partner picked up the keys yesterday and he is smitten! I still haven't seen it and don't expect to until the end of this month yes, that is madness. We've done some extensive video calls including a walk around the area and I think we made the right decision. It's lovely as it is but has so much potential to extend and really get stuck in to the garden. I'm very happy I followed by gut feeling on this

OP posts:

Chocolatehabit · 02/04/2021 12:43

Congratulations!

bluebellation · 02/04/2021 13:14

So glad it's working out for you. We've just sold our house without the purchasers seeing it in person. We sent them loads of videos and they'd looked on Streetview at the area . They then sent a relative to look round and had a full survey done, so as confident as they could be. They have since managed to come and view and we're about to exchange contracts.

mamabear715 · 02/04/2021 15:20

Hope all went well? I too bought a house without viewing, although as someone else said, the agents wouldn't accept a bid, so I sent my eldest daughter along instead to check it out. I was moving 175 miles, and every property in my preferred area suddenly went under offer, so I put it all in the hands of God / Universe. This one had a rainbow in the picture.. all went smoothly & I got it, the kids & I are very settled. :-)

BlueCherryBlossom · 02/04/2021 17:23

Great news OP. We actually put an unseen offer in on the house we are buying (long story, Covid related). It was rejected and we offered more after viewing a month or so later, but our gut feeling about the house being 'the one' was right.

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