17 Reasons Why You Should Do a Second House Viewing

After you’ve done that first home viewing it’s normal to have some doubts:

Is this really the right place I want to settle down in?
Did the second bedroom have enough space for a wardrobe?
Was there mold in the bathroom grouting or did I just imagine that?

It’s easy to forget what the home looked like after the first viewing – because it can take months before you can finalise the purchase. Some people want to have another look before working out their numbers. But others will be confident enough to put in an offer at this stage.

Whether you’ve already had an offer accepted or you’re thinking about it some more, we would always recommend having a second viewing before you sign the documents for buying the home.

So here are a few things you need to make sure you look out for on your second viewing:

1. Building Cracks

You’re really searching for large cracks at this point to find any warning signs. Be sure to check inside and outside the building, as some sellers are known to paint or re-plaster an inside wall to get the sale through.

Key areas to look into include end-of-terrace walls and bay windows, which can begin to fall or bend away from the rest of the home over time.

A chartered surveyor can do a complete review for you, including looking at any structural issues in the property (this is the only way to be sure of any structural issues).

But it’s always good for you to identify any key issues that may put you off the house sale completely. This way you don’t waste time going after problem homes.

Note: you can expect to find some hairline cracks in a property from age or the way it was plastered. This is why it’s important for a surveyor to tell you which cracks can be ignored and which ones need worrying about.

2. Check Water Pressure

Imagine moving into your new home and finding out there isn’t enough water to wash your hair in the morning.

This is usually more of a problem in high rise flats than in ground level homes. But water pressure can vary considerably across the UK.

Make sure you try turning the taps on in each room. Check if the flow of water seems familiar to what you are used to.

Hot water pressure can be very different to the cold water tap so check these separately as well.

Some pressure problems are easy to fix. For some showers you can solve the problem by just changing the shower head. But for other problems you may need a plumber to do more extensive work.

3. Find the Storage Space

You only notice it after you move in, but storage space becomes very important. Normally people are too busy on the first viewing looking at kitchens and bathrooms. Work out what your likely storage requirements are going to be.

At a minimum, you need space for a few suitcases, an ironing board and extra towels/linen.

But storage space isn’t just for your extra items. It’s important that you’re happy with the space in the kitchen cupboards too.

Be aware that new build homes rarely have much storage space unless they are large (every square inch is maximised).

4. Which Way is the House Facing?

It’s difficult to see the difference between a north and south facing house or garden in the winter or on a cloudy day. But in the summer, it can mean the difference between a home that gets a full of day of bright light and one that’s frustratingly dark.

Sunlight availability is hard to judge on your viewing if it’s a cloudy day. Don’t be afraid to bring a compass to the viewing.

The easiest way is to have a compass app on your phone and calibrate it before you head into the property.

Any property that has gardens or windows facing East will get more sunrise light. And by the same logic any homes facing West will get more sunset light.

Although extra sunlight is great for enjoying the garden – keep in mind your garden doors. Large doors like bi-fold

With large bi-fold doors being so popular for homes with gardens, keep in mind that with the reflection of the sun the space can get extremely hot. Ideally try to visit and spend some time in affected rooms while the sun is shining.

5. Are the Rooms Really Big Enough?

Professional estate agents know the tricks that can sell a smaller home.

Some agents stage the home full of furniture – giving the impression that it’s fully liveable. But looking back, did you notice the desk seemed more narrow than others? Or did the bed look a tad smaller?

This is the art of staging – literally making a home look better.

If you’re bringing your own furniture into the new home, make sure you measure up the rooms to know if the pieces can fit. A tape measure will come in handy for this.

Don’t be afraid to move some of the furniture around the room. If you want to get an idea of what the empty space will be like, it might be worth going to a second viewing with a friend so that you can lift some of the furniture out of the room. Just be aware of some limitations – moving a chair out of the way is one thing, but an estate agent won’t be happy if you toss the mattress into the hallway.

6. Do you Want the Furnishings?

Some buyers realise too late that the room was so desirable to them because of the modern furnishings inside it. In the world of home buying, a seller doesn’t have to leave many items in the property – in fact most will take items with them when they move.

Some sellers will even take the light fittings with them when they leave – so it’s important you make it clear if you want to keep anything in the property.

Also bear in mind that finding and replacing perfect light fixtures, for example, can take a long time!

7. External Window Frames

The state of the external window frames of the house is a good indicator of its overall condition. If people have invested in and cared for these, they are likely to have done the same for the remaining corners of the house too.

Wooden window frames should be solid and free from rot. A good trick is to press your finger nail against the wood to find out if has gone soft. Any signs of wood coming away from the window or wall should be investigated.

Condensation between double-glazed window panes can indicate that the windows are not fitted correctly or the sealing has been worn down.

New windows must be fitted properly by a professional, so try to obtain a FENSA or similar certificate which generally includes a warranty.

8. Radiators

It’s very common for existing homes to have dated heating systems. Radiators may not have been replaced for decades. Flats tend to have electric heaters, which may also be dated by have different problems.

For water radiators check for signs of leaking where the pipes meet the floor. Sometimes rust can also be seen on the pipes which needs looking into.

9. Wirings and Plug Points

Wiring that isn’t up to regulations can be unsafe, and rewiring your new house can be costly. Try to get a look at the fuse box as well as plug points, as they are typically an indicator of the quality of the wiring.

Ultimately a building survey will determine whether any need to be replaced.

In our increasingly gadget-driven society, many plug sockets are being updated to add additional usb ports. This seems to be a real selling factor for home buyers, although an electrician can upgrade sockets after you move in for a relatively low cost.

10. Noise

Make sure you pause next time you’re looking around in a property. Listen for surrounding sounds to give you some clues.
Is it possible to hear your next door neighbors having an argument?
Are there signs of families in the building that could have screaming children?
Can you hear the sound of cars or trains outside?

Noise levels may not be a top priority when inspecting a home, but they can quickly become a major concern after you move in.

Of course if you are the type of person who makes plenty of noise yourself – you don’t have to worry about others!

11. Take The Other Road

Sometimes an agent will give you precise directions on how to get to a home viewing.

This can be out of the goodness of their own hearts. Maybe they care about you as a buyer.

But there are some agents who do this to make sure you don’t come across the run down streets in the area. Just because a property is near the park or on a quiet street, doesn’t mean it’s any safer.

If you’re having a second viewing for a home, try and take a different route to the area. It’ll let you see more of the surrounding area and you might find some convenience stores you didn’t know about.

12. Peek Inside the Attic

This point is only relevant if buyers are looking at flats on the top floor or a full house.

The attic (or ‘loft’) is sometimes overlooked in a home. Agents know it’s not the area that sells the place. And most lofts are also difficult for them to get up to and show people around. So everyone focuses on the main parts of the home instead.

But the loft can be a crucial area of the property. It’s the perfect place to store any items that are too good to throw away but too clunky to keep in the main cupboard.

If your home is at the top of a building it’s worth asking your estate agent if a loft is accessible.

If you are buying the freehold to a house it can be possible to turn the loft into a spare bedroom. This can add much more value to a home if you decide to sell it in the future.

Some lofts also have large amounts of insulation inside them so you may decide it’s worth leaving it as it currently is to maintain the heating benefit.

13. Security

It’s important to look at security from the inside and outside.

Take a closer look at the neighborhood. Does it appear safe or are there signs of graffiti and broken windows.

Check if there is an alarm system installed and try and take a photo of it. You can look the details up later at home to find out how old the alarm is (if it’s an older alarm in the building it may not be working any more).

Check all windows in the property to see if they firmly lock shut? Some older windows may have latches that are broken that you will want to get repaired when you move in.

It’s possible to negotiate amounts off your purchase price if there are repairs needed for the security of the home.

14. Look at the Roof

Roofs are one of the most difficult parts of a property to check. It’s normally not safe for you to go up on one. And if your home is on a narrow street it’s very difficult to go far back enough to get sight of the roof.

So if you are lucky enough to be looking at a home where there is enough space to walk further back and see the roof from afar, check the shape. The roof should look level across the building. Some roofs can bend over time – which will eventually require a costly repair.

Roof replacement can be costly, and contemporary roofs have a lifespan of only 15-20 years depending on the materials used. 

Flat roofs often need more regular repair (as water tends to sit on them more than a conventional slanted roof).

Some comprehensive surveys will assess the quality of the roof for you.

15. Find That Boiler

Make sure you can locate where the boiler is in the property. Sometimes it’s in the kitchen. In other homes it’s in a spare cupboard.

Boilers are complicated creatures and it’s near impossible to know if one is on its way out.

If a home has been renovated over time, the chances are it will now include a combi boiler. These usually look small (about the size of a kitchen cupboard) and run all of the energy in the home.

If you can find out the boiler’s brand and model type (normally there’s a sticker on the boiler with this info) you can google the product to check for any bad reviews.

This isn’t an exact science though – people treat their boilers differently in homes and run them at different levels. But if you see a consistent amount of negative reviews with comments suggesting the boiler is like
 

16. Check Mobile Signal

If there’s one thing that’s going to bug you for a long time in a new house – it’s going to be a bad phone signal.

It’s true that wifi should help with this – but it normally takes a few weeks to get a wifi connection setup when you move in.

Take out your phone in each room and make a mental note if the signal strength drops.

If you do find a weak signal around the home and you’ve finished your phone contract – start looking into other providers to see if they have any better signal.

17. Check your Other Buildings

Some homes come with neat extra features such as sheds, garages, or storage facilities. Don’t make the mistake of missing them because the estate agent doesn’t really want to go to the effort. They should be inspected at the second viewing to ensure that they are in good working order (and free from any rubbish that the owners store inside it).

If your home comes with a garage check that the door is in working order and has a decent secure lock on it. 

Final Comments

Keep these tips in mind if you do a second house viewing and you’ll be in a great position to settle into your new home without many surprises.

Once you’re comfortable with the home – make sure you check you’re not overpaying for it.