You’ve found your perfect property, and it’s time to go and view it. With the market moving so quickly what can you expect from a viewing – and how should you prepare in order to get the most from it?
Priscilla Smith is our ‘international desk’. Born and educated in California, she went to the same high school as The Beach Boys and then to the University of California, Santa Barbara, before moving to Scotland and now to Cornwall. Priscilla’s previous experience in the leisure and hospitality industries gave her top-notch customer care skills, which have transferred seamlessly to taking care of clients at Laskowski. We caught up with Priscilla to get her advice on preparing to view the house that just might become your next home.
Do your homework
Now, more than ever it’s crucial to do your homework before your viewing appointment.
In the current market, property is moving quickly and when buyers see what they want they’re not wasting any time in putting in offers. That means it’s even more important to make the most of the limited time you have at a viewing by preparing in advance.
The most important piece of advice I can give is to read the sales particulars – all relevant and important information regarding the property should be available for you to look at beforehand. Most people have a wish list that can be checked against the information you’ll find online.
Check the services, the council tax band. Look at the floorplan. Make sure you’re not viewing a semi-detached when you want a detached.
Prepare some questions
Now you should be able to draw up a list of questions you have about the property that haven’t been answered. When I’m at a viewing there’s often questions about whether the vendors have done any work to the property or about services such as heating.
Preparing all this in advance allows you time to stand and take the property in at your viewing rather than coming to it cold and without a good existing knowledge of the space.
Check out the area beforehand
If you’re not familiar with the area have a look at Google Maps and Street View to check out nearby amenities like shops, leisure opportunities and schools. It’s also a good idea to do a drive by to get a sense of the area in real life, too – try to do one by day and one at night to get a sense of the road at different times of day.
On the day
On the day make sure you’re on time and take note of the feel of the place, the room sizes, the facilities, the light, the outside traffic noise. It’s a good tip to imagine the rooms as boxes if you can – try to see past the decor and think about whether you could see yourself, your family and your belongings in the space.
It’s good to have a friend or partner at a viewing to bounce ideas off, as a second pair of eyes and to back up or question your own thoughts.
How many properties should you view?
If you’re unsure or not interested then move onto your next viewing and start the process again. There’s really no given number of properties you should view – for some people it’s love at first sight, whilst others will view many properties before finding their fit. My advice is to look at as many properties as necessary. You’ll know when you walk into a property if it’s the one for you.
If you’re ready to book a viewing for one of our properties please get in touch – our friendly team is waiting to h
