Tips for viewing a house?

[bubba28]

Does anyone have ant tips for viewing a house? What to ask, what to look for etc. This is our first time, any help would be great? We are in scotland if that matters.

[chrisrob]

Some brief points.
Know what you want before you view. Write out a checklist: no. of bedrooms, garden, car parking etc.
Look past the decoration. If the house feels right otherwise, it doesn't take much to give it a coat of paint.
Take a tape measure. Know the size of your largest and most treasured items of furniture, if you have any.
ook at electric points and switches and the fuse box to get an idea of the state of the wiring.
Look at the water heater and central heating system. How old is it? Will it need replacing?
Look at window frames for signs of rot.
Look at the tops of walls and ceilings for signs of damp.
Look at wall joints (particularly bays) for any cracks that may be due to subsidence.
Outside, look at the roof (from the ground) for any signs of sagging. Ask when any flat roofs were last renewed (usually last about 10 years). On any outbuildings too. Check they are not corrugated asbestos. (Not a problem if they are not going o be disturbed.)
Hope that will get you started.

[Twenty20]

Personally, on a first viewing, I wouldnt be measuring up and counting electrical sockets, I'd be trying to get a feeling about the house and the area, whether I'd want to live there.

After you've seen a few then narrow it down to a short list and go back for a second viewing. That would be the time to start thinking about what would fit in where.

I'd say just go with an open mind but with the thought 'Can I see myself living here?'

[4candles]

Ask, conversationally, as if it didn't really matter, why they're selling - observe the body language.

[andy-hughes]

Once you decide you like a house, make sure you visit it after dark -just drive slowly down the road, and listen for noisy neighbours, kids playing etc., and make sure you do thje same at the weekends - Saturday and Sunday.

[lucca]

I'd suggest viewing in rubbish weather (no problem these days!) On a sunny day it's easy to miss things simply because you feel good. If you like a place in pouring rain/freezing fog, that's a good start. (It also gives you a chance to suss out how effective the heating is etc. Don't be fooled by the usual trick of fresh bread baking or coffee brewing - apparently they often mask murky smells like damp etc. Good luck.