Questions to ask while viewing property

biff316

im going to view a house for sale as me and my girlfriend have been approved and im wondering what questions if any do i ask the estate agent about the house weve seen pictures of it online and we really like it and were just wondering does anyone have advice about important things too say and ask , thank you

millie35

That is a great question.

I have viewed a few houses lately and am in and out in 5/10 mins, some people take ages and have cameras with them, what are they looking for or what do they know that I don't know?

lisasimpson

gald someone started this starting to view preporties never know what to ask.

blueturnip

I have a funny feeling we never asked enough, but a few of the things we did:

Type of heating
Why sellers are moving (you may not get a truthful answer)
How long it will take seller to move
How long it's on the market
Any offers on the property
Do any appliances/fittings come with the house

Now you may not get truthful answers from the EA but it's worth a try!

Also had a stand by some windows and took a good look, for mould or draughts. (not that I would really know what I was looking for )

I have seen others post on here regarding switching on/off lights, flushing the toilets, turning on the taps.

Check in wardrobes and cupboards that's are built in for space etc.

Try and stand in each room to remember it as best you can afterwards.

I'm sure there is much more, but that's all I can think of for the mo.

Maldesu

Never actually though about this but here is what comes to mind;

Sometimes its better to see the house on a bad day than good - you can feel how cold it can be and drafts better.
Double glazed windows - checked they are fitted right (plenty of jobs done with gaps to let out the heat and let in the rain and creatures)
If its an old house, see when/if the roof was last slated
Any darkened spots on the ceilings can indicate a water leak (hence the above about roof)
Mould is pretty much black spots and often starts in corners moving outwards. Some people will paint over this as a quick cover so keep your nose open for the smell. Carpets will hold the mould too so take a look if they are there.
Check when boilers were last serviced

You can always talk to the neighbours too. Ask about the area and see if there is anything they have to say about the house. Any problems with pipes, infestations, disputes etc.

Thoie

If I was going to make an offer on a place, I'd ask for a second viewing, and during the second viewing:

• Bring something like a phone charger to make sure sockets are working
• Turn on and off all taps/showers
• Open and close all doors (presses/wardrobes) - both to see that they're securely built, and that there's no mould lurking.
• If the flooring is important to you, look underneath rugs
• Open and close all windows
• When enquiring about fixtures/fittings that are staying, write it down so that there's no confusion later. If they're taking the curtains, ask if they're taking the poles (can be a bit of a PITA if they didn't come out cleanly)
• Ask what traffic is like at rush hour
• Ask who their internet/television/phone provider is, and what mobile reception is like
• Ask about the neighbours

Separately (maybe between 1st and 2nd viewings)

• Take a drive around the area at night
• Note where shops, public transport links, etc. are

ProudDUB

Ask for the houses BER certificate rating.

What kind of heating is there, oil, electric, gas?

How old are the oil tank, boiler, immersion, radiators? When were they last replaced/serviced/repaired?

Is the attic insulated?

How old are the windows? What are they made of?

Who are the neigbours, owner occupiers, renters, family with kids etc etc

Is there is a garage? Was it built with the house, or added on later? Did they get planning permission to do so? Is the roof of it constructed from asbestos? (Quite common with houses built in the 60's)

Are there added on kitchens, conservatories? Was the proper planning permission procedure followed for those? Do deeds to the property or maps of it show additional add ons? Were any boundary walls affected by them?

Does the seller have clear title to the property? Is there anything going on on their end that would hold up a sale, such as their looking for another house? Is the seller/decision maker a bank or an individual?

Is the house is in an estate or on a regular road? Who takes care of cutting grass in common green areas, verges, maintains street lighting etc

What bus routes service the area? What are the local schools? How near are shops, pubs, restaurants etc etc

Duckjob

I would also ask EA what sort of demographic in the area Owner Occupier/Renting and whether the neighbouring properties are owner occupied or not.

For anyone with, or thinking or getting UPC you can check a prospective address on their website for broadband / phone support. If UPC isn't available you either need an eircom line based broadband or else mobile broadband.

I always also do a bit of googling: <Areaname> crime, <Areaname> antisocial behavour etc. to sniff out potential issues that the EA would never mention.

blueturnip

Thoie wrote: »

Separately (maybe between 1st and 2nd viewings)

• Take a drive around the area at night
• Note where shops, public transport links, etc. are

Definitely do this! We live close to where we are buying, but we still drove past the house a couple of times and also walked down to the area in the evenings and at weekends.

P. Breathnach

There is little point in pretending to yourself that you are a competent surveyor.

Yes, you should make some common-sense judgements about the apparent condition of the property, and a non-specialist might well see that there are issues that he or she would not like to tackle, and decide against going so far as paying for a survey.

But the main purpose of a viewing is to judge if the property seems to meet your requirements. That might mean to you have to see past the current decor; you might need to envisage refitting a kitchen or bathroom (and have a reasonable idea of what that might cost); you might want to look at future potential, such as building an extension. You might want to consider if there is suitable parking for the car(s).

More and more I think of room size and use. Is that second bedroom really suitable for use as a double room? How can you arrange your stuff and your lifestyle in that living room? Where in the house is your computer (or piano or exercise bike) going to be put? If you already own furniture that you want to bring with you, it is probably a good idea to have a measuring tape so that you can see how you might fit it in.

Yes, I agree that checking out the neighbourhood (and the neighbours, if you can) is a very good idea. And convenience to shops and transport.

Personally, I would ask the owners very few questions, and I wouldn't bother asking anything where the owner sees advantage in telling you a lie, because you can't guarantee that you get a truthful answer.

biff316

thanks all very helpfull