5 tips for viewing your next home

5 tips for viewing your next home

March, 2019

One of the best ways to find out if a house is perfect for you is to view it - not just look at it online. However, do you know what you’re looking for? It can be easy to look for what you want in a house, but it isn’t always so easy to spot what you don’t want. Here’s our top tips to get the most out of your house viewing.

 

Don’t forget to look outside

The inside might look perfect, but the outside can give away hidden problems. Cracks on the exterior, missing roof tiles and clogged or broken guttering can be a red flag for problems that can cost you a lot of money later on. When you go inside to view the property, take note of the smell. If there’s a musty scent, this could be a sign of damp and those exterior issues may already be having an effect.

 

Look again…and again

Viewing the house at different times of the day can have a massive impact on how you feel about the property. Not only will it give you more chance to spot any potential problems, but you’ll also notice changes throughout the day.

 

Are the neighbours wild party animals at night? Does the road outside suffer with traffic congestion at rush hour, or lack of street parking when you would get home from work? Even the way the light comes into the house at different times of day can make a difference.

 

Bring someone with you

A second pair of eyes will help you to notice things you might have missed, as well as keep you grounded if you get carried away. It’s easy to get excited over buying a new home and get ahead of yourself, so having someone there to make sure you don’t hastily sign any contracts can be a big help.

 

Check the little things

Most houses aren’t perfect, but it’s important to know if anything is wrong before you buy. Check any light switches, see if the internal doors close properly and make sure there’s enough storage. Turn on the taps too, because even if they’re in full working order the water pressure might not be to your liking.

 

Think realistically

Sometimes you walk into a house and it’ll feel like the perfect one straight away. This may be the case, but don’t let first impressions influence your final decision. Keep your eyes peeled for any problems that would be too big for you to fix, because it will just cause you problems later on down the line. After all, it won’t be the perfect home if you aren’t happy living there.