Do I Need to See a Property Before I Buy?

You should almost always try and view a property before you bid for it in an auction, but if for some reason you can’t there are still ways to research the property from the comfort of your own armchair.

These few questions should help you decide whether you need to view before your buy.

1) Where Is The Property Located?

• A) Locally in an area I know well
• B) Locally in an area I am not familiar with
• C) About 30 miles away

2) What Are You Using The Property For?

• A) I intend to use it for buy-to-let purposes
• B) I intend to buy it for investment purposes and renovate it
• C) I plan to live in it straight away

3) How Much Do You Plan To Pay?

• A) Under £80,000
• B) Up to £120,000
• C) Over £120,000

4) Have You Researched The Property?

• A) I have sent around a local solicitor and surveyor to assess the property
• B) I have obtained the plans of the house and the legal pack
• C) No, I have done no research

Your Answers

Mostly A – You Don’t Have To Necessarily View It

There is no written rule that says you must view a property before you buy it, but it is strongly recommended that you do. This off course doesn’t always apply to everyone and from the sound of your answers you would be safe buying the property without necessarily having viewed it.

If you are already familiar with the area and you feel confident that you know a lot of properties on that street you could just follow your instincts when you attend the auction and bid for the property. If you are not paying much for the property or less than £80,000 there is less pressure if you do make a mistake.

The same reasoning applies if you are looking to buy the property and use it for buy-to-let purposes, especially student accommodation. There still however might be structural damage to the property that you might want to get checked out before you buy.

If you are not able to go and visit the property personally it is always a good idea to send around someone who you trust such as a surveyor, this could cost you a couple of hundred of pounds but would give you that extra piece of mind.

Mostly B – You Are Taking A Risk

You sound like you vaguely know the area and the property, but there is still a lot more you could do to find out more. What looks good on paper does not always look good in reality and you can never be 100% sure that what is written in the auctioneer’s guide is correct.

The more money you plan to spend on buying the property the greater the risk becomes. If you intend to buy the property for investment purposes it can mean that it is even more important to view the property as you want to make sure it has potential and all of your building work can be carried out.

It would be a good idea to take along a builder or a surveyor with you when you went to view the property as they would be able to give you an insider’s view of what work needs done to the property.

Mostly C – You Need To View The Property

From your answers it sounds like you are walking into the transaction with your eyes closed. If you have no knowledge of what the area is like and are basing your opinions solely on what has been advertised in the catalogue, this could spell disaster.

If you plan to live in the property straight away and use it as your home, it is of the upmost importance that you visit it and assess whether it is in a liveable condition. You wouldn’t make any other large transaction without seeing it first, so your home should be no different.

It won’t take a lot of work to view the property and could even save you money in the long run. You should phone up the estate agent looking after the property and book to see it, if possible on more than one occasion.

It is always advisable to view anything before you part with your money, but when it comes to property it is almost essential.

Unless you have somebody you can trust who has viewed the property you should be aware that there is the risk you could lose money if you choose not to look before you buy.