What Should You Check On A Second Viewing?
Your second viewing is the time to look beyond first impressions and check how the home really works.
The first viewing is often emotional. The second should be more practical. It is your chance to look carefully at the property and make sure it really works for you before moving forward.
The first time you view a property, you are often deciding one main thing. Do I like it?
You notice the kitchen, the garden, the bedrooms and the general feeling of the house. You start imagining where your furniture could go and whether you can see yourself living there.
A second viewing should be slightly different. You already know you like the property. Now it is time to slow down and look at some of the practical details you may have missed the first time.
Look at the rooms properly
On a second viewing, think about how you would actually use each room.
Will your sofa fit comfortably? Is there enough space around the dining table? Will your bed and wardrobes work in the main bedroom? Is there enough storage for everyday family life?
Take measurements if you need to. Rooms can sometimes feel larger or smaller depending on furniture and presentation, so checking the dimensions against your own belongings can be very useful.
Look beyond the decoration
Try not to become distracted by paint colours, furniture or somebody else’s taste. Those things can usually be changed relatively easily.
Instead, look at the condition of the property itself. Are there signs of damp, cracking or water staining? Do the windows appear to be in reasonable condition? Are there unfinished jobs you did not notice during the first viewing?
This doesn't mean trying to conduct your own building survey. If you buy the property, an appropriate survey and your solicitor’s legal checks remain important. The second viewing simply gives you another chance to notice anything you may want to ask about.
Check the practical things
This is also a good time to think about the things that affect everyday life but rarely feature in property photographs.
Try the water pressure. Ask about the boiler and heating system. Look at the number and position of electrical sockets. Check your mobile phone signal and, if working from home matters, investigate the broadband options available at the property.
Storage is another one buyers often overlook. Where will the vacuum cleaner go? Is there somewhere for coats and shoes? Where would you keep suitcases, Christmas decorations or children’s belongings?
None of these things will necessarily decide whether you buy the house, but they help you understand what living there will actually be like.
Spend more time outside
Look at the garden again too. Think about the direction it faces, privacy, boundaries, access and how much maintenance it may require.
Parking is another area worth checking properly. If you visited during the working day when the road was empty, what is it like in the evening when everyone is home? If parking matters to you, it can be worth driving past the property at a different time.
The same applies to traffic and the general feel of the road. A location can feel quite different at 11am on a Tuesday compared with 6pm on a weekend.
Ask what is staying
If there are particular fixtures, appliances, sheds, wardrobes or other items that matter to you, ask whether they are likely to remain.
The formal fixtures and fittings information will be dealt with during the conveyancing process, but there is nothing wrong with asking early if something is important to your decision.
You can also use the second viewing to clarify anything you did not ask initially about the seller’s position, chain or likely timescale.
Take your time
A second viewing should feel different from the first. You are no longer trying to decide whether the property gives you the right feeling. You are checking whether that feeling survives a closer look.
Take your time, ask questions and look at the home as somewhere you may actually live rather than simply somewhere you are viewing.
You may leave even more certain that it is the right home and if you spot something that makes you reconsider, that is useful information too.
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duncan.kaye@keysandlee.co.uk
