How many viewings before making an offer?

[trrk]

We are first time buyers and still a bit confused about what to expect from the process. The market here in Cambridge is crazy and most estate agents only seem to be doing a day (or few days) or viewings and then end up with multiple offers if the place is decent. Doesn't leave much time to be making the biggest financial decision of our lives or comparing different places before making an offer. Are we expected to make a decision based on just a 15 min viewing or should we be asking for a second viewing before making the offer? A lot of estate agents seem reluctant about arranging more viewings especially if they already have multiple offers. Or do we make the offer first and then ask for a second viewing if accepted? What is the normal number of viewings you've made before offering on a property in a fast moving market?

Yep! That’s what we had to do. You see it, you like it, the offer goes in. It gives you more scope for a second viewing if accepted but that all depends on the vendor. Obviously you’ll have a survey done too.

We are FTB and I know it’s bonkers-of forgotten what our flat looked like by the time we came to exchange.

The property market is horrendous at the moment. We're trying to buy our third house (from rented). Both times I've bought previously I've done two viewings, at different times of day, to make absolutely sure. Now that doesn't seem possible when we're struggling to even get a first viewing of some places - already 'fully booked' for viewings and they go under offer within a couple of days.

It's always been that if you like it you make an offer after first viewing. I've bought and sold lots of houses and that's what's always happened.

A few years ago I'd have said absolutely do a second viewing before offering. But the market is too hot at the moment, you'll just keep missing out if you do that. We moved last year and only had single viewings on houses we were interested in. For the house we bought, we asked to accompany the surveyor when they did the survey (not ideal though as you've already forked out for the survey by that point)

I have found one viewing is enough if you know what you want and ask the right questions. I don't really understand what you get from a second that you can't get from a first?

I would get a full survey done if a period house after offer acceptance to spot any big issues

I’ve just sold and bought and I cannot see how anyone could manage to get a second viewing in this market

House buying is basically the biggest financial leap of faith you ever have to make.

We looked at this house twice - once just dh and I then 3 days later with dc. But we had already decided we’d make an offer before second viewing. Research the area and if you like the house “on paper” the viewing is really just to check and get a feel for the home. You look round, think yep I can see us here and there price is reasonable, then you make an offer.

My parents really struggled a year ago as sooo many people from London were making offers in Dorset without viewing. They lost 6 houses with people putting in offers £100k over asking price. It was nuts.

We've only had 1 viewing pre-offer in the past 2 years when we've been looking. But the good thing is that (in England, at least), making an offer and having it accepted doesn't mean you must buy the property. You can still have a survey done and request another viewing before exchange. But you do need to go to the viewing with your questions ready and to inspect anything you need to inspect. In general though, we've always had more than 15 minutes. The house we bought, we spent about 1.5 hours there (other viewings just worked around us, when they needed to go in, we came out).

We offered after one viewing, that's just how it is.

There's still time after that, with surveys and all the legal stuff. We've pulled out twice before too, as major issues were discovered. We lost some money on one with legal fees, but again, that's just how it is.

@NeedAHoliday2021

We looked at this house twice - once just dh and I then 3 days later with dc. But we had already decided we’d make an offer before second viewing. Research the area and if you like the house “on paper” the viewing is really just to check and get a feel for the home. You look round, think yep I can see us here and there price is reasonable, then you make an offer.

My parents really struggled a year ago as sooo many people from London were making offers in Dorset without viewing. They lost 6 houses with people putting in offers £100k over asking price. It was nuts.

Wonder roughly what's the asking price ? 100K is a lot