Come at a different time of day, bring a torch and open every cupboard.
Written by
Senior Agent
Daniel has sold more homes in Westgate than anyone in the last decade. He knows which streets catch the evening light.
The first viewing is for falling in love. The second is for finding out what you would be living with. Book it at a different time of day, give yourself an hour, and leave the agent at the door for the first ten minutes.
Come when the street is busy
If you first saw the house on a quiet Sunday, come back on a weekday at half past eight. School runs, parking and the bus route all look different at rush hour, and so does the light in the kitchen.
Bring a torch
Look under the sinks, behind the boiler and into the corners of the loft. Damp, old wiring and patched pipework hide in the places sellers do not stage.
Open every window and every cupboard
Run the taps upstairs and downstairs at the same time
Check which way the garden faces, with a compass, not a guess
Ask how old the boiler and the roof are, and ask for the paperwork
Fall in love on the first visit. Do the arithmetic on the second.
Ask the neighbors
Five minutes on the pavement will tell you more than any survey about noise, parking and the street's plans. Most people are happy to talk, and it is the best free advice you will get.
Jounal
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