Viewing a House Before the Auction

Have you ever been sitting with a friend and listened to them talk about a holiday they’ve recently been on or a place they just been? They make it sound amazing don’t they. It sounds like paradise. Everything is more colourful, prettier, louder, more exciting. But if you go and visit this place yourself or holiday in the same resort you may find it’s not as amazing as they made out.

Indeed, it’s the same with estate agents. When you’re looking to rent or buy they’ll tell you about a house that’s perfect for you. They’ll tell you it’s just what you’re looking for but on viewing you find it’s decidedly not.

Four huge bedrooms, a gigantic back garden and luxury heating can often mean three ordinary sized rooms and a box room, a yard with a vegetable patch and portable gas fires in all the bedrooms.

Most of us have gone through something like this. Of course, even though it’s frustrating to be promised something that doesn’t actually materialise it’s not the end of the world. You tell the estate agent it’s not quite what you wanted and move on to the next property.

The Trouble With Buying Before Viewing

But imagine it was too late for that. Imagine you’d already signed on the dotted line and had to pay for the property – the property that is nowhere near what you wanted. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? Why would you have to pay for a property you hadn’t even seen? Seeing the property is the first step right? Well, of course, it should be. But in some property auctions that’s not the case.

Most property auctions allow you the chance to view the property before the auction takes place. This means you have the chance to see the property for what it is, not what the owner or estate agent says it is. You can assess any structural damage and get an idea of what you would do with the property should you go ahead with the auction and be successful at buying it. Things looks very different in real life than they do on photographs and a viewing gives you the chance to see things as they really are.

However there are some auctions which sell properties without viewings. This means you will be bidding for a property you have only seen on paper. The property may seem ideal but could be nothing like as such in real life. These properties may be sold at a cheaper price but remember there is probably a reason for this. A viewing is always essential.

You would never consider telling an estate agent you’ll buy a property before you’ve even seen it so don’t do it at auction. Remember you are still buying a house, which is a huge commitment, the only difference is you are bidding on the property to get, possibly, a better price. Don’t get swept up in it and forget that this is a serious business and will affect your financial situation for a very long time.