It is likely to be the biggest purchase you will ever make, so
ensuring you ask the right questions when viewing a potential new
home is essential.
Think about your new home
Spend some time thinking about what it is you want from your new
home. What kind of property will suit your lifestyle? What location
is most desirable and affordable? Do you want a garden? How many
bedrooms do you need? Do you want a new or old property? Taking the
time to identify what is important to you will save you time in
your property search.
Preparation is also the key to the viewing process itself. Be
ready with a list of questions you want to ask the vendor and the
estate agent. For example asking how long the house has been on the
market may give you a clue to any potential problems with the
property. You might also need to ask; what fixtures and fitting
will be left? What are the neighbours like? Why the vendor is
moving? What are the parking arrangements? How much does the
property cost to run? In order to keep each property you view clear
in your mind it is best to take notes along the way.
Be as observant as you can be. Look for any potential problems
and costs such as dysfunctional guttering, cracks in the interior
and exterior walls or brown stains on the ceiling that may indicate
a leaky roof for example.
Try to visualise yourself living there. Ignore the décor as much
as you can and try to think about whether your furniture will fit
into the house and how it will look with your style applied to it.
View the property in daylight and be sure to check out the area at
other times of the day: a quiet road might be manic during rush
hour and a desirable neighbourhood may look different at night.
Be polite but don't feel uncomfortable looking around a house,
it is a big investment to make, so it pays to be a little
nosey."