Buying a property is a big commitment at a huge expense and therefore not something that should be rushed into. There are some brave, foolhardy individuals who will make an offer on a house they haven’t seen and, of course, investors don’t always see in person the property they’re buying for renovation or rental.
On average though, potential purchasers view a property around 2 to 4 times before deciding whether to make an offer or not.
Is four times too many times though? Is once not enough? How many times should you view a property?
Why you should view a property more than once
If you see a property online or at your local west London estate agents that looks perfect for you and when you see it in person you love it even more, you might be tempted to make an offer on the spot before anyone else gets in there first.
This isn’t a great idea though. At the first viewing, there’s a good chance you’ll only notice the superficial stuff. Stuff such as the size, layout and the fabulous cushions the current owners have on their sofa.
When you get back to your current home buzzing at the thought of moving into the one you’ve just seen, you’ll probably realise you didn’t take much notice of the important stuff. Stuff such as were there any large cracks or peeling wallpaper on the ceiling. In fact, did it even have a ceiling?
If you can’t remember much about the property other than the feeling that you loved it, you’ll need to go back for another look.
It’s also a good idea to take someone with you to get a second opinion. This person should be someone you trust to tell you the truth and point out the bad bits, not just agree with you about the fabulous cushions.
When should you view a property?
If you view a property only once, you’ll only be seeing it at one time of day. And as there is no perfect time of day to view a property, this means you’ll have to view it more than once.
If you drive your car to work every morning, you’ll need to check the property in the morning to see if you can get your car out of the drive at the time of the school run/rush hour, or will there be a queue of cars outside the house blocking you from getting out?
If you work from home, it’ll be a good idea to view the property in the daytime to get an idea of any noise outside from traffic, local schools or neighbours who leave their dogs outside all day to bark away.
Can you view a property too many times?
Although buying a new home is a big consideration and you need to be sure before making an offer, you do need to make a decision in a timely manner and not keep going back for another look every other day.
Not making an offer in a reasonable time can mean someone else can get in there first, especially in a fast-moving market. In the current market, sellers won’t be waiting ages to receive offers on their property – properties are getting snapped up, sometimes even before they’re on the market.
No one’s denying buying a house is nerve-wracking and there’s always the question of are you doing the right thing in the back of your mind. But no one likes a ditherer and if you keep going back to view the property, the vendor may well think you’re a timewaster.
So, taking the above into consideration, certainly view a property more than once but don’t keep going back so many times the vendor sells to someone else while you make your mind up.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
When viewing a property, pay attention to the plumbing system. Make sure that the plumbing system is properly installed and operating effectively before buying a house. You can even hire an inspector that will examine the water supply and drainage systems, hot water heating equipment, and fuel storage systems to make sure they are all in working order.