Top Tips for Viewing a House
An Overview
Viewing a home can be so exciting. It’s a chance to see a property up close and personal as well as an opportunity to visualise your family living there. However, it can be easy to get carried away and to focus purely on the way you want to decorate it or the structural changes you wish to make. That said, it’s important to go in to each viewing with a strategy to ensure you don’t forget anything. We’ve put together a guide on five factors to remember when viewing a potential new home from writing a list, to checking for damp, and everything in between.
Make a List
The first step before you start viewing homes is to make a list of all the things you want to check or the questions you want to ask. Here are a couple that we recommend you to ask:
- What direction does the garden face?
- What council tax band is the property in?
- What is the broadband speed like?
- Are the windows double glazed?
- Do the window frames look secure and are they in good condition?
Take a Friend
When you’re heading to a viewing always take someone, whether that’s a friend, your partner or your Mum. By going with someone else you can ensure that nothing will be forgotten. Often they will be brutally honest with you about things that need fixed whereas you might be viewing the property through rose tinted glasses. Bouncing ideas off one another will really make you visualise the property in different ways rather than just seeing it for what it is.
Check the Outside
After you’ve viewed the inside of the property head outside with the owner and ask them about the roof, any damp issues, the windows etc. This will ensure any issues with the roof or with damp are addressed so you don’t purchase a home that needs thousands of pounds worth of work. The homebuyers report also details what parts of the house will need work so if the roof has a rating of 2 or 3 then you should definitely take the cost of a new roof into consideration when making your final decision.
Plumbing
When viewing the home it is also important to ensure the plumbing is working well. When you move in you want to know in the back of your mind that the house has running water and, if it’s the winter time, the heating works well. To find out more, ask questions such as:
- How long does it take the hot water to come through the tap?
- Does the heating work?
- Do all the radiators work?
- Are the showers electric or do they use gas?
Completed Work
You also need to ask the homeowner about any work that has been carried out within the home. Ask for receipts and guarantees in case there is an issue with anything in the future. It’s also a good idea to ask about work has been done as it makes you aware of any planning permission that will likely be needed.
What is Included?
Finally, it’s important to ask what features of the home are included such as curtain poles, carpets, white goods, light fixtures etc. Again, it’s essential that you make a list of the features you wish to remain in the property so that way you can ask the homeowner about everything at the viewing.
Choosing a home can be a stressful process but once you’ve found your perfect place we can help you move. We have carried out removals for more than twenty five years and our staff are expertly trained and have the knowledge and expertise to ensure a smoothly run process. From domestic, international and commercial moves, we can do it all. Give us a call today to get your free quotation on 0800 195 8671, or click here.
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