Levene Chartered Surveyors Property Tips and Advice

Viewing Properties

It's important that the estate agents regard you as a serious applicant. Show you are willing and eager to view properties and you'll be top of the list when something new comes on the books. Call agents regularly so that they will think of you first when a property comes on the market.

Tips when looking for the property of your dreams:

  • View the properties as soon as possible. If you leave it too long you could lose out.
  • Make good use of your lunch hours or make appointments on the way to and from work.
  • If two of you are buying and you have children, decide which one of you will be the chief viewer, whose job it is to weed out all but the strongest candidates.
  • Don't be afraid to make numerous visits with tradesmen to find out what you're letting yourself in for.
  • Check the history of any scruffy and therefore cheap property. If it's been rented it may have had a succession of landlords, all of whom may have done the bare minimum in repair and upkeep.
  • If you're tempted to buy a run-down property to renovate and sell on, check how long it's been on the market. If it's been there a long time, it is likely there isn't a lot of profit to be made.
  • New carpets, bathrooms and kitchens can all be signs of a superficial renovation that is hiding more serious work to be done.
  • It's a good idea if you can to take along someone with different tastes from you, they may spot things you miss.
  • Always view a property in daylight hours. You'll be able to see better and spot problems. It will also give you an idea of how much natural light the property gets and see the views from each window.
  • If you really like a property, try to view again in the evening, perhaps rush hour. This will give you a different perspective, an idea about noise, how busy the area is and car parking and so on.

Now that you have looked at our basic guide to viewing property, give our friendly staff a call on 0208 977 6886 or use our contact page to get started.


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