Offer accepted! 2me viewing. Must dos?

[GrumpySock]

I cannot believe it but if all goes well we might be happy owners of out first house soon! I'm quietly over the moon and desperate to get all things right.

We are having the second viewing tomorrow. What shall I definitely do? What to check? What to measure?

The house seems to be in immaculate condition, recently renovated. It is a detached late 20-early 30s mock Tudor.
I don't understand boilers or meters. Anything specific to check or ask the vendor about (through the agent)?

Sorry for a typo in the header

Turn on a tap to check water pressure/hot water. Go at a different time to the first viewing (eg evening vs daytime) so you can see if the area/street feels different.

As far as the boiler goes, either the seller will provide an up to date service when you get to the legal bit, or if not you'll need to arrange one of your own.

To be honest, there won't be loads you can glean yourself from the vendor- most stuff wont come out until you get to the survey/solicitor stage. Good luck!

Don't get too ahead of yourself.

The buying process can be complex and you can never be sure it will complete until you actually do.

I assume as you mention a second viewing that you have not offered yet and also that you plan to offer close or at asking, hence your confidence of acceptance?

Remember, that if you need a mortgage, your mortgage company will also value the house and if they think its worth less then you may have a problem.

Is it chain free? If not, then bear in mind chains sometimes take time to form and, for many reasons, sometimes break later on.

As others have said, there is probably not a great detail you can 'tell' just by looking, and you will find out more if your offer is accepted as part of the conveyancing process.

Also, as its a period property, you would be wise to consider a full survey before you complete. This could throw up stuff that the viewings and property forms don't reveal.

Good luck!!

Offer accepted.
Chain is short and all seem to be ready to move.

I think the house is fairly priced and should be suitable for the mortgage. We are on it separately.

I honestly wouldn't let you come round for a second viewing so soon after accepting an offer, fair play to your sellers.

I've been in a short chain (3 properties total) all motivated to move for the last 4 months, I hope yours moves quicker!

Measuring isn’t important unless you already own expensive large stuff that might be difficult to get in (I once rented a flat where my sofa wouldn’t fit through the front door 😂). Maybe measure windows so you can buy curtains after exchange of contracts.

Things to check… Water pressure, mobile phone reception, is the attic (or anything else!) mouldy, are there any signs of subsidence eg cracks in the front wall, is the road noisy/safe, can you walk to a shop / transport, is there any flood risk…

But if house is new and immaculate with no major issues it may be all quite simple. Don’t worry too much about the boiler, you’ve offered and accepted and the haging over the price stage is finished unless the survey uncovers a major surprise.

@sweetpickle2 oh it was the agent’s suggestion so we went along with it.
The vendor is buying from the same agent so hope they are treated similarly.

oh your offer has been accepted? No, in that case I wouldn’t let you come round either.

A second viewing is (IME) before you make the offer, to check out everything you might have missed in the initial viewing.

Measuring up etc takes place wayyyy down the line when you’re pretty sure it’s all going to complete.

the title literally says ‘offer accepted’ …

Granted it's a bit unusual to do a second "viewing" when an offer is accepted, but I'm a buyer too and I'm currently going through the conveyancing for the house I'm purchasing (already done survey). The price is agreed after reductions, but if the vendor stopped me from seeing the house a couple more times (not for "viewings" but to actually check on it), esp before exchange I'd withdraw my offer, simply because that is not right and I'd be highly suspicious some damage has been done to the house.

I honestly don't think this viewing is any trouble. They are new to the market. The house is “staged” for viewings. If I were them I'd rather let my buyer see it at its best. We don't intend to disrupt them when they least expect it.

Anyway it is already happening. So I will just take videos and my own pictures and try to keep thoughts positive and fingers crossed for a quick exchange.

Also no idea what is usual. We are first time buyers and very excited

It is a little unusual to have a second viewing immediately after the offer is accepted. More normal to view twice, then submit the offer. If I was the seller, I would wonder if you were serious, or hadn't looked properly the first time and are about to look closer and discover things you don't like...

I saw my house four times in total: two viewings before making the offer. Another viewing for measuring up – but only once I had our mortgage offer in hand and searches underway and I knew the seller would feel reassured that I was all in. Then a very final quick look the day before exchange, as the place had been vacant in very bad weather and I wanted to be sure no serious problems had cropped up. Maybe some will say four is too much, but it's the biggest purchase I'll ever make.

As for what you should look for, well, you're not a property surveyor so you can only do so much. I'd be checking all taps, hot water, toilet flush, shower water pressure.

four is not enough. it's your house! somewhere you'll live. I think it's just selfish sellers who don't want buyers in the house because they're scared they'll find fault with it. But in this market, you can't do that anymore.

Honestly @cupcakesarelife if someone tried to do more than 4 viewings on my property I'd tell them to jog on. What are you even looking for at that point??

I disagree. I'd not let someone view a second time UNLESS they had made an acceptable offer, nor would I ever ask to do so.
Anything essential, like a measurement for furniture or the like that's a dealbreaker for some reason, you either get your ducks in a row and ask at 1st viewing before making an offer, or send a query through the agent to confirm the size after the 1st viewing but before making the offer.
2nd viewings after the offer would be for measuring up for curtains or whatever, or to look at specific work that needed doing, or similar, or a pre-exchange visit ( can be necessary if there are long delays between offer and sale).

I’ve done this every time I’ve offered on a house. No measuring! Just a more thorough look round

try deny a viewing/check by a buyer in this market and see what happens. if the buyer wants to see the property before exchange, you're going to have to. buyers have a lot more choice compared to sellers, and buyers are being more careful about purchases these days. this will be the buying culture going forward. just like remote working is now normal. it is naive to think otherwise.

I don't mind someone looking again before exchange, that seems pretty standard to me. But seeing it more than 4 times? That's just too much in my opinion. What on earth are you looking at that you didn't look at the other 4 times

If it's been recently renovated, I would look for any signs of covering over issues, especially if it's been re plastered. Look at outside walls for cracks or new mortar.
Here are some other thoughts!

Broadband speed and options.
Mobile phone reception
Gas (presumably)
Noise from neighbours (i.e. children, barking dogs music etc)
Knock up the neighbours
Join Next Door for the area
If there's a what's app group for the road, join.
Is there residents parking, and do you qualify or need it.
Is it on a bus route?
Check planning applications on the council website.
Check companies house for businesses (can be revealing!)
Flood risk
Planning history and notifications for work done on the council website (i.e. electricians, Gas and windows etc)
Compare surrounding areas (link)

I hope it doesn't put you off!

I've seen my property for purchase three times now. it's not my vendor's business what i'm looking at it for since we are at conveyancing stage , but they've been totally cool and doors open for us. i will check again before exchange and hoping to complete the week after. i'm not saying your buyer will want to see it four or more times, but if you saw your own house four times before you moved in, what are you even going on about really? 🙄

The house I’m trying to buy I had 2 viewings then I made my offer which was accepted, then I took my builder the other day. If the sale of mine progresses and I don’t have to pull out I will ask to go nearer completion date.

From my experience buying the house I am trying to sell we went once, went head over heel in like bulls in a china shop out of depth buying something that had lots of issues. If I sell it it will be a miracle but it’s been marketed realistically warts and all.

So I disagree with how many times you want to view the house you are going to live in for however long! Its not like buying a TV or a car!!!

Look at the local crime map.
Ask if the vendors have been burgled or suffered any crime.
Ask about any disagreements - disputes with neighbours.
Have a walk around the neighbourhood at different times including at night - will you feel safe coming home alone?

Thanks everyone. Some good ideas here. Luckily we are local and know the area very well although I still feel it is a big move. The street is nice and it is in a nice area. No flooding risk. Quiet. Detached and spaced from the neighbours. Hope it works out!

I don’t understand your post @cupcakesarelife I’ve never seen a property I’m buying more than twice, once before offer and once before exchange. You’re the one who said four times wasn’t enough, which is what I was responding to.

Fair enough if you and the buyer are fine with it, just not how I’d roll!