Viewing house after offer to take measurements?

[muschoc]

I’m a first time buyer and had an offer accepted on a house 8 weeks ago. All has gone smoothly so far - mortgage offer received, survey done and just a couple of enquiries remaining with solicitors. Talks of completion by the end of September. Is it reasonable to ask to view the house again to take some measurements for some building work / furniture etc or should I wait until exchange or even completion? Is this a typical thing to ask to do?

No harm in asking, up to them if they say yes or no! We did it and worked well

Absolutely a typical thing to do. Sellers can be funny but yes one or two visits perfectly reasonable.

it’s a good idea to take the floor plan with you and add measurement to it take a tape measure and clipboard is the easier. Although use apples voice notes on my phone now -it’s a bit weird if someone else is there)
also ask if there is anything unusual / quirky that they need to know and locate stopcock.

You absolutely should have a viewing immediately proir to exchange to check there have been no massive issues since offering. Given that is likely to be in the next month, can you hold off with measurements, and do both together?

I think it depends on the situation- we viewed ours but it’s empty. I can imagine if it’s family packing for the move they would struggle to fit us in unintentionally.

I would say very reasonable.

When we sold our last house we allowed the buyers to view with their builder (they were planning some major reconfiguration).

We did draw the line however when they started asking to have stuff delivered to the house (a new kitchen for one!).
When we said no they miraculously managed to get things moving and the (stalled) E&C happened within days.

I’ve sold an empty house and let the buyers take measurements but when they wanted to come back a second time it was a no as I had already had to travel from London to let them in the first time.

on a property we were still living in we had a similar request and it was a no. It takes too long, is too invasive and tbf theres no harm in buyers just waiting. The plans give dims and a good indication of what’s going on for buyers to start planning.

I've always done this, but then I'm a surveyor! No one has minded and I think it's fine so long as you aren't turning up constantly.

Absolutely. Ive always views a property at least twice before making an offer and your solicitor may well tell you to view it right before exchange, as you have to get insurance on the property from that date.

Viewing the property wouldn’t make a difference to the insurance company
We’ve moved louds of times and never had to do this
Nor has anyone whose bought from us

I think that they mean it is precautionary rather than obligatory. It's fantastic advice to view just before exchange as it is your main final chance to pull out without incurring substantial costs.

Absolutely normal. I always do a pre-completion inspection. The last house I bought had cupboards full of 30 years of crap when I viewed it - I wanted to make sure all the previous family’s ratty stuff had been cleared out!

This is absolutely fine, we've done it and had it done to use when we've bought and sold and it never occurred to us to mind. It'd be a red flag to me as a buyer if I wasn't allowed a second viewing.

But why would they have moved all their stuff out pre completion

You usually do this on the day of exchange right before signing the contract, you could do it a day or two before but the longer before exchange the more risk of something occurring inbetween.

Walk around, check nothings changed (no leaks, damage, holes in walls etc...) before you 'lock in' to the contract and at the same time take a tape measure and note pad to make notes on sizes so you can plan your furniture layout. The EA may even let you borrow their laser measure if they have one with them (I have found they tend to be very helpful as its the last push to get the sale through).

Yep came to say this. Don't get stung. View before exchange!

Yes it’s reasonable so long as you fit in with the current owner.