Things to look for at viewing after offer accepted

[Bluehasnoclue]

Hi all,

I am a solo first time buyer & recently had an offer accepted on a great property . I am so excited! It is a probate sale & needs doing up inside completely as not sure it has been changed since it was built in the 80s but I’m excited to put my own stamp on it. As I’m buying solo I don’t have anyone to bounce ideas & questions off of..

I had approximately 10 minutes in the property and it was quite overwhelming, with the process being very quick due to state of market. The agent that showed me the property was covering someone else who had left so didn’t know too much about it. It went to best & final the day after the viewing.

I am going for another viewing on Friday to have a proper look around but obviously no vendor to ask questions to.

What sort of things should I be looking at/for? Should I measure at this point or do that at the viewing directly before exchange?

Do you have any recommendations of questions to ask the agent too?

Also stupid question possibly, but the flat has never had WiFi. Obviously this is really important in this day & age. Is it relatively easy to get WiFi installed in a flat that’s never had it? How do I go about finding out about this?

Thank you so much in advance for any wisdom you can share!

Congratulations, that’s very exciting.

I don’t know about questions but in your position I would take lots of photos from all angles. And have a good look so you can see what needs changing immediately and what can wait (eg rotten window frames — urgent; dated but functional kitchen - can wait).
Your survey will answer many more questions.

As a starter;
Leasehold or freehold, dependant on this associated cost.
What if any works are planned to the block?
Some have a specific Internet and/or TV provider...what's the deal? Maybe knock on a neighbours door.
Damp, any peeling paper/paint/mould.
Type of heating.
Make sure you pay extra for a homebuyers survey, this is much more detailed than a valuation survey and will list the condition of electrics etc too. We were buying a cosmetic/new kitchen/new bathroom doer-upper, got a homebuyers survey back which indicated "risk of death" from the electrics and one other structure......Needless to say we pulled out.
1980's is pretty new (well to someone my age) so there shouldn't be too many issues but ALWAYS worth getting an expert opinion from a surveyor.

Congratulations 🎊

Also useful to check the boiler, electrical board etc to get an idea of how old they are. Have a little chap on the walls and floors to see what they are made of and check your phone signal strength in the property!

Congrats I am
In the same situation got accepted just last week so exciting

Well you can get Wi-Fi from 3G ( others available) it’s just a plug in router .ask when the wiring was last checked & look at the fuse board to see if M C Bs are in use the agent will probably be
more familiar with a modern Board. Who are your energy supplies with!
Council tax payable to which council.
That one sounds daft but our daughter lives in Oxfordshire with C/T payable to Stratford on Avon.
What is being left in the property if anything.
Is this flat leasehold or freehold
Is it in a block if so what garden space do you have as it may be communal
One for yourself Don’t forget to inform the following people of change of address…
Bank …DVLA.. Dentist.. Phone provider.. Any insurance company’s Good luck,

If the property has a phone line you will be able to put in a WiFi router, if no phone line you can have a line put in or use a 4G package.
Listen quietly what noise can you hear?
Turn on taps check water pressure.
Open cupboards is there hidden space that could be utilised.
If you thinking about removing walls tap them are the hollow - non- supporting or full solid supporting walls.

If you are in the top flat then check the roof space. I had an amazing attic in my top flat. Also make sure your solicitor clarifies who is responsible for the roof. You need to ask about parking so you know for moving day! Talk to neighbours to see if any issues in the block. If it's leasehold you want to ask how many years are left and what the management company are like plus any management fees or planned works. Whilst you are there have a look at where the plug points are and check if blinds/ curtains so you know what you need.

What are your plans? Move straight away or do it up first? Depending on plans I would look at what’s you need to do. I would look at all additional info beforehand (photos, floor plan, description) and then do a list of questions for each room. I think you can check council tax online or email EA about it. Don’t waste your precious 10 minutes on this. A house of this age might have asbestos (very high probability) which affects price and timescale of works.
Definitely pay for home buyers report.

I would imagine it’s had a telephone line if the former occupant was elderly so broadband won’t be a problem.

Flats from probably the 80s are likely pre wired from a central comms room which you may need to give access to Openreach on the day. Check with the management company or freeholder or neighbours how the flats are fed.

I don't want to burst your bubble or be unkind, but why have you put in an offer and now going back to look at it properly?

You should look at it properly before offering in case you feel it's not right for you, as it's not fair on the vendors!

Check for asbestos if it is an old building. It could look like old swirly plasterwork on ceilings or brightly coloured 1979s lino or sometimes it can look like plasterboard bt obviously that is harder to spot. Also check the heating system. I have looked round lots of houses and it is very easy to not notice a complete lack of central heating on a first viewing.

I think you should spend the few hundred pounds and get a homebuyer’s survey.

It’ll give you peace of mind about the stuff you’re unlikely to know to look for.

At your viewing, take plenty of photos because it’s a long process before you actually exchange and you’ll want something to refer back to.

Thank you so much everyone for the tips so far, I really appreciate it! All such good ideas and things I will definitely check/ask.

I will definitely get a homebuyers survey & possibly get someone to test for asbestos separately too.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

@buddylicious

I don't want to burst your bubble or be unkind, but why have you put in an offer and now going back to look at it properly?

You should look at it properly before offering in case you feel it's not right for you, as it's not fair on the vendors!

Hi Buddy,

Not unkind at all, totally understand where you’re coming from, and have seen threads from vendors where they’re worried about reasons for second viewings.

From what I understand on such a big purchase it’s quite normal to have a second or even third viewing to go back and measure & work out where you want furniture/what improvements you might want.

I wasn’t allowed a second viewing before it went to best & final as it all happened so quickly. The slots were also 10 minutes long so it was difficult to look at everything at the time.

I have no intention of pulling out or changing my mind (unless the survey comes back with something really awful). I’m just really excited & wanted to see it again so I can picture where everything will go & can ask the agent some other questions .

It’s great that you’re being given another viewing at this stage, I don’t think it’s standard. By all means ask lots of questions but don’t give the agent the impression you’re having second thoughts. They don’t get paid until the sale completes and if they have doubts that you’ll do that it’ll ring alarm bells. Good luck!

@123walrus

It’s great that you’re being given another viewing at this stage, I don’t think it’s standard. By all means ask lots of questions but don’t give the agent the impression you’re having second thoughts. They don’t get paid until the sale completes and if they have doubts that you’ll do that it’ll ring alarm bells. Good luck!

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I think my questions are more life adminy based like where is x,y,z etc rather than big ones which could change a buyers mind. Will definitely be careful not to spook them though. I’ve got my mortgage sorted & searches are mostly sorted so hopefully they know I am committed as I’ve paid money into this now. However I appreciate that nothing is a done deal until completion really.

Thank you again!

Also just to add it was actually the owner of the estate agent who offered/recommended having a second viewing at this point so hopefully there will be no concerns from them !