3 Questions to Ask Yourself When House Hunting

Most sellers are reliable and operate above board, but there’s bound to be the odd few that employ sneaky tactics in an attempt to trick prospective buyers into buying. While sometimes these tricks are relatively harmless - for instance, baking bread and brewing coffee to entice viewers - there are some vendors who will go a step too far, such as placing picture frames over defects or covering up signs of damp and mould.

In order to avoid falling victim to such deception, it’s important to be curious and inquisitive during property viewings - particularly if you’re thinking of going ahead with the purchase. This blog from Simon Levy Associates provides some key questions you should ask yourself when house hunting.

Has the property been redecorated recently?

While it’s understandable that sellers want to make their property as appealing as possible and increase their sale price, there are some instances where excessive redecoration suggests they are trying to hide something, particularly if it’s been done last minute. Redecoration might be done to cover up stains from mould and damp. Alternatively, it could be to hide cracks in walls and/or gaps around windows and doors, which can be tell-tale signs of more serious structural issues like subsidence (i.e. the land is gradually caving in or sinking). If left unchecked, subsidence can be extremely costly to correct and also cause a property to become too dangerous to live in.

Do they have the heating on but windows open?

This tactic is especially common during the colder months or in the lead up to spring. If the property you are viewing has the heating on full blast and all the windows open, it could be completely innocent. Alternatively, the vendor could be trying to remove or at the very least reduce signs of damp. Damp is a serious issue that can cause rot and mould to grow and can even cause health problems. It can sometimes also be a bit of a nightmare to fix, especially if it’s caused by other issues with the property such as poor insulation or insufficient ventilation.

Is there anything else I’m purposefully not being shown?

Is the estate agent or seller only holding viewings at a certain time of day? If so, they might be trying to hide noise issues or other nuisances in the area, such as nearby schools, rush hour traffic, or even difficult neighbours. Similarly, if the person showing you around the property is trying to discourage you from viewing a particular part of the house or actively forbidding it, this might be an indication that there is something they don’t want you to see - i.e. a potential deterrent. This could be blocking off attic hatches to prevent you from seeing problems with the roof or insulation or claiming that they don’t have the right key to unlock certain doors.

In order to avoid disappointment once it’s already too late, why not hire a chartered building surveyor to check that everything is in order with your desired property? The team at Simon Levy Associates will be able to carry out a full building survey to not only identify problems but also find the root cause. We’ll ensure that you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Contact us today to book your appointment.