Top Tips When Viewing a Property

When we hear about a property that fits our preferences, we become eager to visit so that we can make a more accurate judgement as to whether it truly is the dream home. Viewing a house is a vitally important step towards finding your ideal home and it gives you the perfect opportunity to experience the property firs hand. However, there are many different aspects of viewing a property that you need to consider before you decide to make the purchase. It’s important to remember that there is more to viewing a property than just comparing it to your personal interests. Here are a few tips to take onboard when viewing a potential new home that will help you feel comfortable about making the right decision.

For starters, try and adjust the way you approach your visit so that it doesn’t include searching for your personal interest and attractions. Instead, try and approach the viewing as more of an inspection. Try not to let your personal feelings dominate the viewing as you do need to ensure the property is in good condition. There are all kinds of issues you’ll need to address with a property, so making sure you know what these issues are beforehand could save plenty of money.

If you believe you’ve found the ideal property, don’t just book a single viewing. Try and fit in multiple viewings at different times during the day so you can get a better feel of the place and increase your chances of spotting any issues. What’s more, your opinion might differ second time around, so a second viewing will give you the assurance that you’re definitely making the right decision to go ahead with the property.

During the viewing, don’t just restrict the experience to the property itself. Once you’ve finished looking around the rooms and getting a feel for the interior and surrounding land, take a walk through the local village and discover more about the area. There’s more to moving to a new location than just the property, so find out as much as you can about pubs, schools, parks, the nearest takeaway and anything else that you might find interesting.

When you’re going around the house, try and keep an eye out for any problems with the floors, walls and ceilings. Cracks can be quite difficult to spot at first, whilst damp can also be identified by the colour or texture of the wallpaper. Remember that the seller does not have to tell you about any problems they’ve experienced and they might even cover issues up should they be eager to sell, so keep this in mind throughout the inspection.

Finally, try not to be put off if you do end up finding something wrong with a property, especially if you’ve got your heart set on purchasing it. It always helps to get professional advice first as you can find out exactly how much the repairs and maintenance will cost you. Getting your own professional survey done will also provide you with all the information you need regarding the condition of the property.

Mike James is Sussex businessman and self-starter with an interest in property renovation for the buy-to-let market. He writes about his exploits for Gowers Surveyors, Chartered Surveyors based in Stamford and Peterborough.