What do you want to know when you view a house?

[SoRainbowRhythms]

Going on the market imminently and doing the viewings myself. Would like to make a bit of a list of things to cover off so asking the MN hive mond what they'd like to hear!

How do you find out about the neighbours? That's my biggest concern when moving - and they aren't going to tell are they, the sellers, not unless it has got to a point where a dispute has to be declared (at what point is that - when you have involved police/solicitor/council for noise etc)?

It's generally under the sink in the kitchen, can look like a tap or have a lever...but will be very close to where the water comes into the property...I guess it's when it's not under the sink in the kitchen that people really need to know

This. Being followed round the house with someone going ' that flooring cost 25 grand! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahah! Don't look at that mark on the wall that's nothing to worry about! Ahahahahahahahahah!'

Had that kind of thing a few times and honestly I just switched off and mentally thought yeah, not buying this. Makes everything so awkward. I want to be able to have a look in your cupboards and wardrobes and under the stairs without you standing next to me being 'helpful'

I would expect to just show people round. I wouldn’t expect in-depth questions from first viewings.

Council tax bands, orientation, schools, etc should all be on the EA’s details.

@Alchemistress either that or there's a couple sitting in the room smoking and doing Take A Break crosswords and you have to squeeze past them and lean over the alsation in his basket to check that the window frames aren't rotting.

Vendors - don't be there!

Yes, OP, I think you need to factor in that this is off-putting for some potential viewers.

Why would you need to look in someone’s wardrobes?

To see how much storage there is? If they're built in that's where you have to put all your stuff. Who wouldn't look?

Mainly access to public transport, also when large jobs like windows, boiler etc. If it has solar panels.

Unfortunately finances mean I have to do the viewings myself.

Thanks to those who have helped me compile the list!

Exactly this.

I would assume any viewers have carefully researched the area before arriving and aren't just timewasters.

I'd wait to be asked questions and have a folder of documents ready in case they want to see when the boiler was last replaced and rewiring and replumbing done if an older house.

Be prepared for people to be a bit put out that they are being shown around by the owner and not an EA.

This. I'm not even sure I'd attend a viewing done by the owner. If no alternative, absolutely do not follow them around chatting. Let them in, and wait outside until they've had an initial look on their own. Let them come to you with questions.

How is anyone who doesn’t want the owners there going to ask any questions?

The ea won’t know jack 🙄

And to make sure they don't have damp issues!

We left an information sheet for the EA to refer to the first time we sold. The second time we used an agent who had asked us all these kinds of questions already so that she had the answers to hand when doing viewings. She was brilliant.

Have a look on houseprices.io if necessary to answer these.

How many times has the property sold over the last 30 years? If more than a couple then is there a reason for the high turnover? If less, then talk about how people have loved staying in the property (assuming it wasn't a rental).

If the price is higher than the last sale price+RPI, then how will you justify that? Have you made significant improvements?

I wouldn't want the owner there and I wouldn't expect them to answer honestly anyway

There is no way around it so it's happening, sorry to disappoint!

Some EAs are definitely better than others when it comes to preparation of information on a house. Good ones will spend time writing down every detail you tell them to relay it back to viewers, others send out a minion who's never even been in the house before or read the listing.

op I’ve always done viewings, I show them round , then sit in the garden and then let them have a look around by themselves, never had any problems.

Anybody who discounts buying a property just because owner is there is not seriously considering buying it anyway.

Thank you! I don't plan on giving anyone the hard sell, just can't stretch the budget further is all.

The things you can't change not the things you can.

You can't change whether the neighbours are nuts and own a constantly barking dog.
You can't change whether it is in a high crime area or pollution zone.
You can't change whether it is built over a mineshaft.
You can't change whether there are parking wars or whether an angry shouting mob makes its way back from the pub at 12:00 at night every Saturday.
etc.

There is a thread on here which gives loads of information on tools you can use to check all sorts of stuff before you start wasting money on conveyances, like flood risk, crime stats, TPOs etc.

We did the inital viewing with the EA who couldnt answer any of our questions, she even told us the land out the back was maintained by the council ..... we came back to view with the owner to find out that land actually belonged to the house. Shockingly shit estate agent!

I want to know whats wrong with it. Too many sellers blow smoke about how fabulous it is but no house is perfect.

It might not put me off (ALL houses need work) but I will be more annoyed finding out those things later in the process so honesty goes a long way.