10 Tips for Viewing a House

Buying a house is an exciting experience in your life. I always compare it to falling in love. You don’t fall for every man or woman, your life partner should really suit you. So it should not be just a house, but a home and that is quite something else. To see your future dream home in real life after your virtual search on, for example Funda, you need to be well prepared. Below are 10 tips that can help you.

1. Make a checklist.

Of course you have a list of criteria that your dream home must meet. Select in advance from the enormous supply. Don't spend time viewing houses that don't meet your most important criteria. Too much looking will make you numb. Take that list with you and tick off the points during the visit. Then you can compare your 'score lists' of various houses later on. You'll also know what to ask in advance and what to look out for.

2. Viewing homes outside your budget.

Prices are under pressure, but a good sales agent has also set a good asking price. Of course you can negotiate about the price, but you have to be realistic and not expect that a house will drop in price after 3 months. Some houses are simply out of your reach and it's a waste of time to invest in them.

3. Take your time.

Make sure you arrive at a viewing on time. Then you can already take a look at the street and the neighbourhood. If you arrive too late, you often don't have the peace and quiet to let all the impressions sink in.

4. Keep the same system during the visit.

In other words, make the same tour every time if you view different houses. Start at the bottom and then go upstairs. Then, of course, go back down and in this way you will have seen everything twice. If you're downstairs and want to see how big that little room was again, go back up again. Take pictures if you don't have a good memory. Always ask the selling agents if that is allowed. Not every seller agrees.

5. The very first viewing is a "date".

The most important thing during a first viewing is to see and feel if that house suits you. Actually you know within a few minutes if you don't see yourself living there. Try to detect the positive feeling and don't worry too much about the state of the window frames or the roof, you can take a closer look at that at a second viewing.

6. Be respectful.

First of all, go to the house you are going to view. The sellers love that house and making unnecessary hurtful comments is pointless. Also be respectful towards the selling real estate agent. I know, they don't have such a good reputation, but that is usually unjustified. The selling agent should show you around and inform you. He or she is a flesh-and-blood person, and you may find some people nicer than others, but that is no reason to treat him/her as a scapegoat.

7. Don't go "catty."

Funnily enough, buyers think that if they are negative enough, they can get more off the price. Nonsense! You only make the atmosphere unpleasant when you act this way. And what do you think the selling realtor will think if you make an offer later on? You don't have to shout it from the rooftops if you like the house, but it is okay to be positive. A seller also likes it when the house is sold to someone who enjoys living there and a good atmosphere during the negotiations can often achieve much more.

8. Keep your keys in your pocket!

Many viewers or possibly well-meaning fathers will also take a close look at the structural state during the inspection. Using the car key or a screwdriver they brought with them, they thoroughly inspect the state of the woodwork by piercing the wood. Sometimes the wallpaper is pulled or a loose piece of plaster is picked open. Make sure you don't damage anything and invest in an Architectural Inspection, then you will get a much more complete and better picture.

9. Also, look at a different time of day.

For example in the evening, you can see how many cars are parked in the street and whether you have to park your car 2 blocks away after a hard day's work. A house can look totally different in the rain or in the evening. Do you still feel comfortable there? Then you know it's good.

10. Fall in love with a house!

If you get itchy about a house, it's a good thing. But beware, you'll soon be ready to make an emotional offer and that can cost a lot of money. Go and see the house a second time and take your buying agent with you. He or she has isn’t emotionally attached to the house and can give you good advice. All the necessary research the buyer needs to do will be done for you and the lowest price will be negotiated professionally.