Useful Questions to Ask When Viewing a House

Viewing a property is an important part of the home-buying process and no matter how much you love a house when looking at it online, it’s highly recommended that you book a viewing before putting an offer in. Viewings provide you with the opportunity to see a house in person and you can get a better sense of the size, layout and condition of the property, as well as any features that may be included in the sale.

Commonly, viewings will be carried out by estate agents and whilst you’re walking around the property, you have the chance to ask some questions to help you decide whether you would like to purchase the house. Although there will be lots of useful information on the property listing, such as the house price and the EPC rating, it won’t tell you everything you need to know to make the best-informed decision. 

If you’re wondering what sort of questions to ask when viewing a house, below we have listed some that our estate agents think are important. 

How long has the property been on the market?

It can be useful to ask how long a house has been on the market, this will help you to gauge the strength of the current market and the demand for the property. It can also give you an indication of how motivated the seller is, whether there have been any price reductions and how much competition you may face when making an offer. Knowing how long a property has been on the market can help you make an informed offer to the seller. 

Has there been much interest in the property?

Asking if there has been much interest in a property for sale can give you an insight into how desirable the property is. It can also help you decide how quickly to put an offer in and how high this offer will be. If there is lots of interest and you don’t want to miss out on the house, you may want to put a higher offer in quite quickly. On the other hand, if there isn’t much interest, you may have more time to negotiate a lower price. 

What is the neighbourhood like?

Buying a new house is a big decision and it’s beneficial to find out more about the local area when you’re viewing a property. Knowing what is nearby, such as schools, parks, shops and restaurants, can help you to decide whether it’s the right home for you. You may also want to ask about crime rates, transport links and noise levels to get an even better feel for the area.

How long have the owners lived in the property?

It is important to ask how long the owners have been living in a property before putting an offer in because it can give you an idea of how well the property has been maintained. If the owners have been living in the property for a long time, it may indicate that they have been taking good care of it. This can be an important factor in deciding whether or not to make an offer.

What type of heating is in the property?

Lots of people overlook this, but asking about the heating in a property before purchasing is key as it will help you determine the energy efficiency of the home, how much it will cost to heat and what type of maintenance may be required. All of this information will help you to figure out how much your monthly outgoings are likely to be should you decide to purchase the house. 

Is the property listed or in a conservation area?

Asking if a property is listed or in a conservation area before purchasing is crucial. Properties in conservation areas often have restrictions on what can be done to them, such as limits on what changes can be made to the exterior of the house. Listed properties have statutory protection which means they are protected from certain types of renovations and demolition. So, you may not be able to renovate a property in the way you would like to in the future.

Viewing houses for sale in Little Hallingbury

If you’re just starting your search for a new home and you’re interested in viewing houses for sale in Little Hallingbury, get in touch with our team at Wright & Co. We can guide you through the process of buying a new home and you will be in very safe hands with our experts. Collectively, our team has over 110 years of experience and we can help you to find the perfect property that meets all of your needs. Explore our website today to browse through the properties we have for sale in Little Hallingbury, Bishop’s Stortford.

  Back