Hello World! Welcome Friends! The home buying process can be super long and drawn out, but you’ll eventually reach the point where it’s time to physically view some houses. Whether this is through open houses or private viewings, it’s a chance to step inside a property and see what’s what!
This is arguably the most important part of buying a home. If you skip the viewing stage, you could be majorly ripped off. You see, when you agree to buy a home, sign the contract, and send over your money, that’s pretty much it. The house is yours, and the sale of the home is done under the assumption that you have checked everything out. So, if you enter the home and see that it’s not at all like the photos – or there are issues you can spot when you get a closer look – that’s your own problem to deal with. This means you fork out more cash fixing the home, so it’s a lot more expensive than it originally was.
You can avoid getting ripped off or played for a fool if you know how to view a house correctly. Firstly, always schedule viewings. There’s no reason you can’t view a house that’s for sale, and if the owners don’t let you, it’s a red flag the size of the sun. Once you have scheduled a viewing, here are a few other things you should do:
Bring a Neutral Party Along
What this means is you bring along a friend or family member that’s not involved in the home buying process. They’re with you to provide some extra support, but also as another pair of eyes. They’ll look around the home with you, helping you spot anything that looks amiss. Also, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions for you. Encourage them to be as nosy as possible, always asking the estate agent about everything in every room. It helps you learn way more about the property, ensuring you leave feeling more confident about the state of the home you’re viewing.
View the Outside of the Home
As you read this, you think that it sounds painfully obvious. Of course you’ll view the outside of the home, why wouldn’t you? However, when you actually get to a house viewing, you sort of forget about the exterior. You’re so concerned with what’s happening on the inside that you neglect the outside. Don’t do this, it can be your undoing!
You must analyze the exterior to look for cracks in the walls or other signs of structural damage. Even things like mold growing on the outside of the home can be a problem. It’s something you’ll have to remove, adding to the costs if you buy the house. Additionally, consider things like the driveway and gardens. Are they in good condition, or will you need to do a lot of work on them as well? There are so many things that happen outside a property that you can miss if you only focus on the interior.
Arrange a Viewing During Bad Weather
It’s common to arrange house viewings when the weather is nice. Sellers want to do this for a couple of reasons. Mainly, it means the buyer will be in a good mood. Who doesn’t love it when the sun is shining and you’re viewing your potential dream home? Secondly, good weather can make their home look a lot nicer, further increasing the chances that you’ll buy it.
Nevertheless, you should try to arrange a view during bad weather. You can view a house when it’s sunny and dry, getting the illusion that everything is fine. However, when you move in, it starts raining. All of a sudden, you notice leaks in certain places and blockages in the drains. Now, you’re on the phone hiring a local plumber and paying a fortune to fix everything. If you view the home when it’s raining, you can avoid this. You can see how the property stands up to bad weather, alerting you to any possible hidden issues.
Inspect Every Room
Some people will be very hands-off when viewing a home. You don’t want to intrude, so you have a quick glance. Don’t do this; get your inspector goggles on instead. You need to know that this home doesn’t have any problems, so inspect and pay close attention to everything in every room. This includes going down to the basement or up in the attic. Leave no corner unchecked, and you will have a better idea about the state of the property.
After viewing, you can double-down by paying for a home inspection to give a professional assessment of the home. Any issues can be taken into account, adding the cost of them up. Now, you can submit a bid – if you still want the home – that takes the extra money you’ll need to pay into account. Or, you can avoid bidding on the property because you’ve realized it requires too much money and effort to sort out.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Reasons to Consider a Retirement Home
Room Design: How to Plan Everything in Advance
Things to Consider Before Buying a Condo
Building Materials for Your House Construction
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Toodles,
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