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Viewing a house tomorrow on my own

60 replies

LushLemonTart · 02/10/2024 22:37

Dh isn't available as is helping family and can't get out of it. Just found the house today and got a viewing tomorrow.
Any tips appreciated?
Would it be OK to video? I'm taking a tape measure. And notepad.
Really excited as it's a good price and in a quiet area. Presently live in a street that is majority rented and can and has had horrendous tenants.

TIA

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KievLoverTwo · 03/10/2024 02:53

It’s almost 3am and I don’t have the energy to answer much, but just wanting to give you a bump for the morning crew to help you, and to say I think it’s okay to video as long as you say something like “would it be okay if I do a quick whizz round the rooms to video so I can remember what the spaces look like please?”

Acornsoup · 03/10/2024 03:01

If it's a good option just get your DH to make his own appointment.

BiscottiToffee · 03/10/2024 03:03

I did this years ago when DH couldn't leave work.

Pre arranged a video call from property with DH. EA fine with it.

Took tape measure.

noweddingnocry · 03/10/2024 03:07

My ex DH went to view a house without me and put in an offer immediately .We moved in 6 weeks later and I am still here 20 years on .
Turns out ,for me ,the house I hadn't set eyes on was more of a keeper than him 😁

Twiglets1 · 03/10/2024 06:49

It should be ok to video - just ask the EA or whoever is showing you around.

HellsBalls · 03/10/2024 07:24

Make sure there are enough sockets. Is the kitchen and bathroom decent? Artex ceilings? Ask about previous work, and why they are selling. Ask about the neighbors. How old are the windows? Does it look all up together and maintained? What condition is the drive and outdoor areas like. How are the fences.

TinaYouFatLard · 03/10/2024 07:36

For an initial (and solo) viewing I wouldn’t video or measure anything! These kinds of viewings, if you’re a couple are only really useful to rule out a property. If you like it you will need to make a second viewing pronto so DH can have a look too. Then is a good time to drill into the details more.

Just go along and get a feel for the place!

Wentie · 03/10/2024 07:39

@HellsBalls just out of interest would not enough sockets really put you off a property?

im always amazed at how specific some people are when buying, some of our viewers said they wouldn’t buy because the under stairs wasn’t converted into those pull out shoe drawers, it was just a cupboard.

Autumnalfun · 03/10/2024 07:41

You need to ask, explain it’s for your husband as he can’t make it.

Twiglets1 · 03/10/2024 07:52

Wentie · 03/10/2024 07:39

@HellsBalls just out of interest would not enough sockets really put you off a property?

im always amazed at how specific some people are when buying, some of our viewers said they wouldn’t buy because the under stairs wasn’t converted into those pull out shoe drawers, it was just a cupboard.

This … a lack of sockets would be a strange reason to reject a house & so would missing shoe drawers. These things can be easily sorted.

HellsBalls · 03/10/2024 07:55

Wentie · 03/10/2024 07:39

@HellsBalls just out of interest would not enough sockets really put you off a property?

im always amazed at how specific some people are when buying, some of our viewers said they wouldn’t buy because the under stairs wasn’t converted into those pull out shoe drawers, it was just a cupboard.

It would! Not enough sockets at best means extension cables are needed or at worse a full rewire, which comes at a cost of thousands both for the rewire and then the subsequent redecorating.
There are too many old and unmodernised houses for sale that needs tens of thousands of work, and are not priced to reflect this. A rewire, old kitchen and bathroom, new boiler, artex ceilings, dodgy render and you are looking at a 100k spend.

BunnyLake · 03/10/2024 08:10

HellsBalls · 03/10/2024 07:55

It would! Not enough sockets at best means extension cables are needed or at worse a full rewire, which comes at a cost of thousands both for the rewire and then the subsequent redecorating.
There are too many old and unmodernised houses for sale that needs tens of thousands of work, and are not priced to reflect this. A rewire, old kitchen and bathroom, new boiler, artex ceilings, dodgy render and you are looking at a 100k spend.

I had an extra socket put in, it cost about £120.

Twiglets1 · 03/10/2024 08:12

@HellsBalls you can get extra sockets put in without a full rewire.

We did it in this house shortly after moving in. And my daughter has done it in her flat also.

LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 08:45

@noweddingnocry that's so funny. Glad you still love the house.

We have another viewing Saturday both available then.

This is a bungalow. We won't have as much room for shit so will have to have a huge declutter if we go there. But it's mostly just 2 of us . Rarely dgcs stay over. Adult dss occasionally.

We were buying a house with tenants still in but guess what....yes they're still there. Tbh it's been a blessing as the bungalow is better for us by the looks of it?

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LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 08:46

Meant to say thank you everyone.

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CoffeeGood · 03/10/2024 08:47

My husband works overseas so when we were moving, he wasn't available for viewings, so I took my sister and WhatsApp'd him on a video call. I did tell the EA what I was doing as we arrived and it was fine. The house owner was also there and didn't mind. My sister spotted a couple of things that I might not have done so an extra pair of eyes is always helpful. I would think videoing would be okay too if you explain why, it's not really that different to having a person looking around. I wouldn't mind at all if I was the seller.

LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 08:52

@CoffeeGood thanks I'll ask. I might facetime as he will be available for that. He's just sitting in for a workman for his adult dc. They're moving too.

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Jeezitneverends · 03/10/2024 08:56

BunnyLake · 03/10/2024 08:10

I had an extra socket put in, it cost about £120.

Exactly, not a hard job for an electrician…we had to get a couple of extra (very specific location) sockets added AFTER a full rewire

LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 09:07

We might have to get an extra socket if there's no where for the chest freezer. Or do without it 😳

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fortifiedwithtea · 03/10/2024 09:26

I wouldn’t video that feels invasive to me. Is the floor plan on the EA details? Answering from a sellers point of view, I had woman view our last house who got me to measure from door to window. She needed to know whether her large sofa would fit. Barmy if you love a house surely you buy furniture to fit. Anyway she didn’t put an offer in.

From the buying point of view ask lots of question, particularly have owners done any DIY. Flush the toilets , turn the taps. Open the doors etc.

Our house looked good but when we moved in there was so much wrong with it.

The saucepan on the working top hid the damaged area of work top.

We were shown the garden via the kitchen door. Turns out the patio door was jammed shut.

I asked did the property have a tv aerial. They truthfully answered yes. What I should have asked was did it work? Readers it did not.

The toilet down stairs had an airlock. The noise was horrendous but was a minor fix. The DIY installed bathroom toilet soil pipe connection back to front. That was an expensive plumbers bill.

The DIY installed kitchen bloody dangerous. Gas hob not correctly connected. Call out to British Gas sorted that.

The second hand gas fire they fitted again dangerous. British Gas tapped it off.

Our surveyor flagged up house needed rewiring. Our electrician discovered wiring going diagonally across a wall in the kitchen. The loft light switch was on the landing, that should have been in the loft itself.

Shortly after moving in a piece of cast iron guttering fell narrowly missing myself and 16 month old daughter. It would have killed her had it hit her. That could not have been foreseen but pretty scary.

Despite the problems, we’ve lived in this house more than 20 years now.

LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 09:46

@fortifiedwithtea that's shocking. Glad you're happy though.

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BunnyLake · 03/10/2024 09:48

Personally I would not want someone videoing the inside of my house. I’m still living in it and you may not buy it, so having the interior of my house on a random person’s phone wouldn’t sit well with me. Is this a new thing, do people not mind?

fortifiedwithtea · 03/10/2024 10:26

@LushLemonTart thank you, yes its been an ideal family home just very expensive at the beginning. Good luck with your viewing.

Autumnalfun · 03/10/2024 10:27

BunnyLake · 03/10/2024 09:48

Personally I would not want someone videoing the inside of my house. I’m still living in it and you may not buy it, so having the interior of my house on a random person’s phone wouldn’t sit well with me. Is this a new thing, do people not mind?

Well if it’s on right move and you’re doing viewings I’m not sure many see the difference,

LushLemonTart · 03/10/2024 10:30

@BunnyLake I can see your point but the whole house is in pics on rightmove. I don't think I'll bother though unless it's just EA and house is empty.

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