One of the most exciting aspects of buying a home is viewing a property for the first time. ‘Love at first sight’ may prevent you from being objective, so here’s how to have a successful viewing.
Get the best from your estate agent
The selling agent will have unique information about the property and the area. Ask him about the vendor’s personality and decorating tastes.
This will help you to avoid any shocks when you arrive at the property, allowing you to focus on the viewing. You don’t want to be sidetracked by an unusual taste in carpets or a rude vendor.
Enquire about the street the property is in. Ask the agent:
· how often properties come up for sale
· if the properties fetch anything close to the asking price
· if property prices in the street have been rising.
Be suspicious of ‘For Sale’ boards on the street – there may be something owners want to escape from, like an unsociable neighbour or impending development. Don’t be frightened to knock on a few doors to get the inside track on local issues.
Quiz the vendor
By asking a few pertinent questions, you can move yourself in to a good position as a potential buyer. Ask:
· Why they are moving
· How soon they want to move
· What fixtures and fittings they are leaving
· Whether there is planning permission already granted to extend the property
· When the bathroom, kitchen, heating, electrical wiring and windows were last replaced.
You may be able to use the answers to bargain a lower asking price.
Use your senses
If it smells musty then there’s probably a damp problem. Look out for:
· peeling/bubbling wallpaper or paint
· perspiration on walls
· black or green mottling on surfaces.
Pic: A run-down property in obvious need of repair! Courtesy of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Touch walls to check for dampness. Leaks will leave brown patches on ceilings and mould in top corners. Another smell to rouse suspicions is paint – a fresh coat may have been applied to cover up damp patches.
Put the property under surveillance
Visit the street at different times of day to get a true impression. Include the school run and commuter rush hour. A visit after dark is an excellent idea too. Look for CCTV cameras and police incident boards. Drive past nearby off licences and late-night convenience stores. If you’re worried by groups of children, check with the local police station or authority for dispersal zones.
Don your X-ray specs
It’s easy to dismiss a property if it’s not decorated to your taste. Remind yourself that wallpaper can be stripped and avocado bathroom suites replaced. If you’re going to be swayed, take along an impartial friend.
Cracking up
Cracks are not always a sign of subsidence. Hairline cracks are common in plastered walls and are normally no more than a cosmetic nuisance. Cracks around window frames can happen when new windows are installed. Cracks to be worried about include those:
· in corners of rooms
· that you can insert your little finger in to
· that split open wallpaper
· to the exterior of the property.
Your essential property viewing kit
Tennis ball or apple
Use a tennis ball or apple to detect uneven surfaces – another symptom of subsidence. Place your round object on either a windowsill or the floor – consult a structural surveyor if the object rolls away. Doors and windows that stick can also indicate subsidence.
Tape measure
Use to double-check any dimensions on the estate agent’s sales particulars. Also use a tape measure to check out door openings and other areas where you intend to put furniture. Today’s extra large furnishings don’t always fit in older properties.
Binoculars
It’s vital to check the roof - missing tiles may mean a leak and damp. Inspect the guttering and drainpipes for disrepair – damp can occur if they are blocked or damaged. Slime trails on exterior walls are a sign of leaks, and poor or missing lead flashing on the roof spells a costly repair. Finally, a leaning chimney and uneven roofline could indicate subsidence.
Torch
Use a torch for a clear view of utility housings, normally located in dark cupboards. Make a beeline for fuse boards/boxes – a very old one is potentially dangerous as well as expensive to replace, and may need rewiring completely. Also, shine your beam in to unlit lofts and under floorboards.
Camera
The property’s particulars will probably carry photographs but they will be taken to show it in its best light. Use your camera to capture the property how it really is. Snap anything you have concerns about or things you think you might forget. But you must ask the homeowner’s permission before you start taking photographs.
Safety
Remember, don’t go on a viewing on your own, always take a mobile phone and let others know the address of where you’re going.