Viewing a house: do’s and don’ts!

April 2024

You’ve spotted a nice house online or your purchase broker tipped you. Your next move: a tour around the property! How do you go about visiting a potential new home? Let us get you started with 7 do’s:

Tip 1. When in doubt: go over and see for yourself!

Would this house suit me? Is the living room spacious enough? What about the light? When in doubt: definitely do book a viewing. 

No matter how great the pictures are: nothing beats a real life experience. Bathrooms for example are notoriously difficult to photograph. Smaller spaces are often more spacious in real life than you might think based on the photos. A property might actually be much brighter and sunnier due to a photo session on a rainy day. The neighborhood may surprise you, the layout may seem unconventional but could actually turn out to be very efficient…

You won’t know for sure until you see for yourself. Does it exceed your expectations? Great! Is it disappointing? Then you can mark the house off without any further thought.. It’s a win in both cases!

Tip 2. Make yourself at home

During a viewing, many viewers tend to just walk around. Understandable: you want to take a look everywhere. Plus, it may feel uncomfortable to plop down on the couch.

But please, do make yourself at home. At least, up to a point… By taking a seat at the dining table or setting yourself down on the couch for a moment, you’ll get a better sense of how you will actually live there, instead of just visit. Good to get a taste of that feeling!

Tip 3. Tour the neighborhood

The neighborhood is at least as important as the house itself. Don’t know the area very well yet? Take a tour by car, bike or on foot. Get a sense of the atmosphere, visit some stores, get yourself a croissant at the local bakery… Think about how the children will cycle to school, what route you will take to the office each morning.

This will give you an idea how an average working day will feel, where you’ll run your errands, whether you will match with the neighbors and whether you will be happy to shop at the corner store. Important info to include in your decisions!

Tip 4. Focus

When visiting a potential new home you want to be able to concentrate on your feelings and focus on the question: does it feel right? Good to not let that judgment be clouded by searching for structural defects or dealing with legal pitfalls etc. Therefore, take a buying agent with you who focuses on all technical aspects so you do not have to.

You can relax and view the house and imagine yourself at home there. Then discuss with your real estate agent: is this not only your dream home but also a good investment? Our purchase specialists will help you make the right decision!

Tip 5. Zoom out

Don’t let the current layout guide you too much during a viewing. You could rearrange the couch, break up the separate kitchen, add a dining room to the living room or install a wall divider in a studio for more privacy… Zoom out: does the house offer the possibilities we are looking for?

So look carefully at the house in terms of vibe, potential, location and sun exposure. For example, ask if a wall is load-bearing, or what’s above the drop ceiling. And then estimate any remodeling costs. How a house is used now and what you can make of it are 2 different things!

Tip 6. Keep an overview

Are you going to visit several houses? Write down what you have seen during or right after visiting a house. You might mix up which bathroom felt more spacious than in the pictures, or which rooms were brighter than expected. Bring pen and paper or keep a phone at hand!

Taking pictures is also fine, but make sure to ask the home owners if that’s okay first.

Tip 7. When in doubt: don’t buy!

When in doubt whether to book a viewing or not, do so! If it turns out as a “no”; there’s hardly any loss. At most you will lose an hour or two…

But if you are unsure whether to buy or not: don’t! Don’t be rushed by stiff competition or an attractive price. If it is not the one, it is not the one. Together we will continue our search for a house that makes you think: yes! This is it!

Do you have a buying agent yet?

With one of our brokers at your side, your position as a buyer is much stronger! We are happy to work with you and formulate a clear buying strategy based on your wishes, demands and opportunities.