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Original poster

First time buyer - please tell me that everyone goes through this when they start viewing houses.

27 replies

NorkyButNice · 02/07/2009 09:44

After years of renting, we've decided to finally buy a house when our lease runs out in a few months, so I've lined up a few viewings this week.

I went to two yesterday and have fallen completely head over heels in love with the second one I saw - literally it could have been designed, built and decorated for our family and all of our stuff to move into. I love, love, love it and want that house! When I walked in, it just felt so homely and wonderful - I couldn't stop smiling as I walked around it.

The owner was doing the viewing and unbelievably, she works for the same company as me, in the same office - she had the same blimming cake tins I do... and the garden has an established veg patch all ready to go...

Anyway - DH says I'm being MUCH TOO EMOTIONAL about it all and I've only seen 2 houses so must CALM DOWN...but surely you have to have an emotional feeling about a house you buy? As long as it ticks the boxes regarding location/schools etc?

Did anyone else fall in love with one of the first houses they saw then go on to see loads of better ones?

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 02/07/2009 09:46

Don't forget they will have done their best, on estate agent's advice, to MAKE the house look homely - and just right for a family market too, if that is what they are aiming at.

DW and I saw about 10 houses we could quite happily have bought (as well as about 25 which were not right) before we found our current one.

Original poster
NorkyButNice · 02/07/2009 10:08

Yes I know...men are so practical

Am dragging DH to see it tomorrow anyway and I know he'll love it too, but he says he'd rather pay 50 grand less and do all the work to make it homely himself.

I'm actually viewing the house next door which is on for 70 grand less but the details don't say whether it goes into the basement like the lovely house does.

OP posts:
Fimbo · 02/07/2009 10:13

I am always an emotional wreck when going to view houses, I love them all! Luckily dh thinks with his head first and has a tendancy to rein me in.

Good luck btw!

Bleatblurt · 02/07/2009 10:15

I saw 60+ houses and fell in love with about 40 of them!

Go back for another look once and look closely at it this time. Make a list room by room if you have to of all the things you would need to do. It'll help you get your head working alongside your heart.

Oh and it was about house number 30 that ended up being The One for us. Glad I didn't rush DH into going for one of the many other ones I insisted was perfect for us.

UnquietDad · 02/07/2009 10:38

You have to be detached (even if the houses you are viewing are not, ho ho).

You will be looking at these places at their best.

It's like going on a first date with someone who is doing their best to be presentable, interesting and flirty, and then marrying them on that basis...

Buda · 02/07/2009 10:45

When we were buying years ago we ended up buying the first house we looked at! It was a new build and easy. DH's comment was the he would rather buy the first house we looked at than look at 60 houses and then buy the first house we had looked at!

It was right for us at the time and we still own it. Has been rented out since 1995 though.

Original poster
NorkyButNice · 02/07/2009 11:04

I like that analogy - first date with a house and I'm ready to get married. That's quite similar to my love life to be honest (yikes).

Latest discovery is that next door house does indeed go into the basement so is just missing a loft extension, and the amazing decor. How much for a loft extension and full house refit these days?

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NoHotAshes · 02/07/2009 12:14

I'm exactly the opposite - FTB needing to move soon and can't find anything I like. I am worried I am being too picky. I think if you really like the house then great - so long as it definitely ticks the boxes for you. You don't need it to be the best of all possible houses, it just has to work for you.

TigerFeet · 02/07/2009 12:19

We only ever looked at two houses, both on the same street, we bought the second one we looked at and we're still there nearly 10 years later. Our attitude was much like Buda's dh - why look around when you know you've found The One???

Botbot · 02/07/2009 12:27

I did that. It's the novelty of looking at places TO OWN. It was the second one for me too - a slightly run-down ex-student flat that I went into raptures over, imagining all the fun we could have renovating it etc. Bubble soon burst when I went back the next day with DP, and he pointed out the huge crack down the outside back wall, while I was looking the other way planning barbecues in the garden.

MrsMattie · 02/07/2009 12:32

I fell in love with a house, put in an offer, had it accepted...then they withdrew the acceptance. I was devestated. It was already MY house. I had worked out where things would go, what we were goingt o do with the garden etc etc.

Saw a few shitholes after that and was despairing. had almopst given up hope when we viewed a house that I fell in love with as soon as I stepped into the hallway. made them an offer on the spot, they accepted it - we've been here for 2 years now

It's hard not to get emotional about buying your first house.

goldenpeach · 02/07/2009 12:48

A word of caution. When I was buying my first house I viewed a great property and by the time I offered it was gone. It was the first property I saw, so I figured there would be better ones... There weren't. I ended up buying a compromise which I sold a few years later. It required a lot of DIY and wasn't easy to sell (I also had horrible neighbours for the first two years). I didn't lose any money but I'm still kicking myself about that perfect house, less DIY and I would have made a massive profit as it went up a lot more than mine.

cat64 · 02/07/2009 12:50

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steamedtreaclesponge · 02/07/2009 12:56

I do think it's good to have some kind of emotional connection to a house if you're buying - when renting you can cope with something less than perfect, but I think you need to love the place that you'll be living in for years and years.

But - and this is a big but - don't take it too hard if it doesn't work out. You will find another one (or more) that you will love just as much.

The dating analogy is exactly right - more fish in the sea and all that

And yes, try to ignore the furniture, if possible - it won't be staying!

queenrollo · 02/07/2009 12:56

i'm in the process of buying at the moment. the very first property i saw i fell head over heels for......and it fell through, and i was devastated.
We like old and unusual properties, and they don't come up very often.....so we started looking at much cheaper compromises, as something to tide us over while we looked for our dream house (we're renting but wanted to be back on the property ladder). We arranged for a second viewing on a house that we liked (but didn't love) and the same day managed to get a viewing on a complete wildcard...not in the area we'd been looking at, slightly above our price range and it was bright green on the EA pictures!! Needless to say we only got as far as the living room and we knew we were going to make an offer.....as we went through the rest of the house we just loved it more and more.......
I had reached the point where i wanted to stop house-hunting. After falling in love with that first property and it falling through i thought i'd never find anywhere i liked as much but i did......

Original poster
NorkyButNice · 02/07/2009 13:27

Thanks for all the advice!

We've managed to get a viewing to see the house tonight so I'm hoping that DH will be open minded about it

I've lined up a couple more viewings tomorrow though so I'm not putting all my eggs in this one lovely basket...

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 02/07/2009 13:43

Remember if a house puts out on a first viewing it's a slutty house.

Fizzylemonade · 02/07/2009 13:48

I am always a bit too practical. When I come out of a house I like I write a list of where everything of mine would go, and make notes of the things some people miss, like where do you put your shoes and your coats?

Where do you stash the ironing board/hoover/bikes etc

I take binoculas and look at the roof/brickwork/sofits & facias, do close up inspections on windows, doors.....

OMG, I sound like a man!!!

I am really emotional buying a house, it has to have that welcome feeling but I also need to check all the other stuff. Yes, I am a control freak.

kitsmummy · 02/07/2009 17:01

Norky, regarding your loft conversion and decor question - we did a loft conversion at our last house and it cost nearly £25k which included an en-suite, carpets etc. We've done a full re-furb inc nice kitchen, bathroom, garden, stone flooring, period features etc, the full works in this house (4 bed) and spent £45k on the refurb , so depending on what sort of decorating it needs, it's condition, it could easily cost as much as the lovely house

Original poster
NorkyButNice · 03/07/2009 11:43

UQD - this house put out but at least it proposed marriage afterwards

I took DH to see it last night and he really likes it too, but still has his practical head on and wants us (ie me) to go and see a few more.

So I saw one this morning (25k less) which would need a new kitchen and bathroom along with general decorating to be to our tastes.

I'm also floundering in trying to work out how one goes about actually buying a house? Do you have to have a mortgage approved and solicitor in place etc before you actually make the offer? Is it best to get an independent mortgage advisor or just look some up online? Complete novice here.

OP posts:
jeanjeannie · 03/07/2009 12:15

Back in the old days (pre-crash!) I always had a mortgage offer in place and I always shopped around plus talked to an idie mortgage advisor. I'd say spend some time looking at what's on offer - read that small print and don't be rushed into it. Please don't borrow more than you can afford - you'll be amazed at how pushy they're still being.

Worry about the solicitor when you need one! When I bought in London the prices for solicitors were stupid so I got one in the Midlands where my parents live - half the price and never encountered one problem from not being near to the property.

My advice is that your head and heart both have to like the property but your head should always win!! But there are plenty who would disagree

cat64 · 03/07/2009 16:06

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MorrisZapp · 06/07/2009 13:11

My mum bought her first house because of the bathroom cabinet. For real!

Telly experts say it's all about 'that crucial second viewing', when you are over the 'oh my god' factor, and looking at the practicalities.

Good luck!

ChristieF · 14/07/2009 14:12

You have to step back a bit I think. We are living in our sixth house and I'm desperate to move. In our time we've viewed hundreds of houses and of course sold five (six if you count my mother-in-law's). We've lived in four different areas. I can honestly say I've never had THAT feeling on viewing a house. Because we've done so much building and DIY over the years you get more realistic about what you want and can do. I have fallen in love several times with the garden. I think that you have differing needs at different times of your life. How much work do you want to do? Can you do it yourself or is it going to cost money? Actually the garden is more important to me than the house. Good for the soul. A house is just bricks and mortar. Have you made a list of what you need/want and take it with you when you view? Check out other aspects such as neighbours, noise levels, how old is the plumbing, electrics, insulation? Good luck.

hannahsaunt · 14/07/2009 14:20

We both had that feeling on a house we viewed and were second in the bidding so didn't get it. We went into mourning for that house and it took a good couple of months to even look at the property websites again. We trailed around 10-15 and then found the one - knew it within stepping into the hallway - complete heart over head reaction and we put in a note of interest as soon as we got back to the car. We got it and still feel the same way about it. We did do building work and it was hell. And expensive. Worth it? Certainly to the value of the house but it was touch and go on the stress side. Get the one that's ready to move into.