Don't just view, ask the seller
A Staffordshire estate agency is reminding house hunters in the area that viewing appointments are more than just an opportunity to look around, but also the chance to ask the seller questions that could prevent nasty surprises further down the line.
Newcastle-based Heywoods Property said that most people wouldn't think twice before asking questions about much smaller purchases such as a second-hand car or mobile phone contract. Yet when it came to the biggest and most important purchasing decision they could make, homebuyers were remarkably reticent through fear of offending the seller.
The company suggests that buyers prepare a list of questions to ask at the viewing appointment and also urges them to keep a lookout for anything unusual, such as badly fitting windows and doors, damp patches or recent improvements.
It said that house hunters should not be afraid to ask when the house was last rewired, who is responsible for boundaries or to see the paperwork relating to any work carried out.
By asking the right questions, not only could buyers avert the potential expense of any necessary remedial work, they may well avoid the high cost of an abortive sale by picking up on issues before committing to a survey.
And this, it concluded, was of mutual importance to both buyer and seller, because abortive sales just wasted time and money for everyone.