Top Tips For House Hunting & Viewing Properties

H&M Properties

We all know that first impressions count and how easy it is to fall in in love with the property of your dreams without looking beyond the façade. Take a day off and book in a maximum of 6 viewings. Preferably go on a week day, as an agent will be able to give you more time than at the weekend, when everyone else will be viewing.

Here are some tips to help you with your house hunting.

1. Can you afford it?? – Don’t put yourself in a situation where you are looking at properties that are out of your financial budget – you may end up either falling in love with the property and stretching your finances or end up feeling completely disappointed that the dream house is just too far out of reach.
2. Is the house big enough for your needs? Are the rooms big enough and is there enough storage?
3. Don’t overlook flaws and be tempted to ignore major problems with the property. Include in your budget any major repairs that are needed.
4. Has it got damp? Musty smell, water stain marks, look to see if the property has been painted to cover damp problems.
5. Check the structure of the property – you may not be an expert – however, look for cracks in the walls, externally and internally. If the property has an extension – look at where it joins the main house to check for signs of movement.
6. How old is the roof? Have a look from the street – can you see any missing tiles? Is there a flat roof in need of renewing?
7. South facing gardens will give you the best chance of sunshine in the garden – check which way the house is facing. If the garden faces a different direction, get a second viewing on a sunny day to see how much sunlight the property gets.
8. Are you happy with the area? – the house may be beautiful, but if it is situated in a noisy busy area, consider if this is right for you. Check how far from shops? Can you walk there or do you need to drive? Are there noisy train tracks nearby? Are you under a flightpath?
9. If you like the house – be prepared for a trade-off – decide what the most important factors are to you. Prioritise what you can sacrifice, can you live without what the house does not offer?
10. Don’t rush to offer – have a good think and try to give yourself at least one night to sleep on it. If you still feel the same in the morning then prepare you offer. Highlight your strong points – are you in a chain? Have you sold or got your mortgage ready? Some vendors may be willing to sell to a better candidate than take the highest price.