What do people do when they view a house? What should they do?

The things people do and the questions they ask when they view your home. This is a sometimes extreme list of things that can happen! At least if you've read through this list of questions and thought about the answers you'll be prepared.

Questions people ask:

Any disputes or noise issues with the neighbours? If you've ever made a complaint about your neighbours then you need to declare it. Failiure to do so can get you into trouble.
Who lives next door? What are they like? Do they have children? Have they lived there long?

Why are you moving? This is one nearly everyone asks. Have a good reason ready. How long have you had it on the market?

Have you ever been burgled? This is fair enough to ask! You might not want to have to say yes though!

Have you ever flooded? This may be a question people ask if you have a stream running past.

When was property last rewired? They might not need to ask this if you've got brown bakelite switches and furry freyed wiring hanging out the ceiling.

Central Heating System - How old is the central heating system, do you have it regularly serviced? Do you have a record of the servicing? Is it under guarantee still? Is it economical? Do you have TVR valves on all radiatiors? Where is the boiler? Do you have a hot water tank? Is it insulated?

How old is roof? Do you have any problems with it?

How long they have lived there? If they haven't lived there long then perhaps there are problems with the area causing them to want to move quickly. If they've been there a long time then I'd still try and work out if there was a reason - perhaps neighbours have changed or something new has been built?

Has the house suffered from any subsidence problems? Has it been underpinned?

What council tax band is it? Often agents will list this on the details, but not always and people like to check.

Improvements - What did the previous owners do to the house? What improvements have you made? Did you use a builder or DIY? when was it done, is it still under guarantee or warranty?

Water - Is property on water meter? Are there manhole covers on site? Have the water mains been replaced recently in the streets?

Flat specific questions - how much is service charge? What happens to refuse? Are the neighbours nice? Can you hear them?


Location Questions

Is there a good school nearby?
Is there a playground or play area or football pitch nearby? Where do the local kids hang out? This is useful to know even if you don't have kids - if they hang out nearby is it a problem?
Is there anything noisy nearby? Pub, chippy, fire station, lorry depot etc



Testing the house - not quite to destruction!
It's strange but many people feel intimidated by turning on taps and flushing loos - but these are things people are entitled to check!
So these things are things people perhaps should do when they're looking round.

• check all taps work easily and see what water flow is like, and whether the water system rattles!
• Flush the loo and turn a tap on.
  
• Open cupboards under the sink (But you've tidied them haven't you?)
• Open and shut every window
• Do all the doors shut?
  
• Look at the ceiling - are there cracks?
• Walk on floors to test for squeaks
  
• Check if misting on double glazing
  
• Look how many sockets there are and where they are
• Does the shower work well?
• Look in the kitchen and see if they have a dishwasher - if they don't, why not? No room, or not wide enough?
• Make a plan of the kitchen - sketch out the units and cooker point and sink
  
• Are there vents in old fireplaces?
  
• Are light switches in the right place?
  

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Wierd Questions that they might ask

Has anybody ever been murdered here?

Has there been any crimes committed in the house?