How many times should I view a property before buying?

With moving home often rated the most stressful experience the average person faces in their lifetime, getting your property selection right – whether you’re looking to buy your first property or that forever home – matters.

Property viewings are important for a long list of reasons. You’ll come face to face with the reality of making the home your own, rather than just admiring the pretty pictures that form part of the marketing pack. You’ll also be able to examine every aspect of the property up close and personal.

With so much riding on the viewing process, it makes sense to do it more than once. But how times should you view a property before buying?

What’s the magic number?

One piece of advice we give to all first-time buyers and home movers is to take your time. Whilst competition is no doubt rife on the property buying scene, it’s crucial that you make the right decision for you, your needs, and your budget.

As well as taking your time on the viewing itself – you should dedicate at least 30 minutes to each property viewing – viewing the property across multiple visits is a must.

Everyone has their own opinion on what is the magic number for property viewings. Here Which? takes us through the average property viewing figures for buyers in the UK:

“Even in a fast-moving market, it’s best to go and see the property more than once if possible. The more times you view a house, the more likely you are to spot potential problems. Our research has found that 26% of people viewed their current home once before buying it, 43% twice, 21% three times and 11% four or more times.”

Viewing the property more than once is the key to success, anything after that is up to you! Between two and four viewings should provide sufficient confirmation on whether the property is right for you.

When should I view the property?

If you’re particularly keen on the property and it seemingly delivers everything you need on paper, you’ll be equally as eager to schedule those viewings. Timing your viewings wisely however will give you the complete picture you need to make your decision with confidence.

Schedule your viewings for different times of the day to ensure you see every aspect of what life could be like as the property’s proud new owner. The presence of natural light, traffic and other noise pollution is certain to influence your decision.

What else should I look for when viewing?

Whether you’re gearing up for your first, second, third or fourth viewing, treat every viewing like a fact-finding mission. Ask the questions you need to ask and be as thorough as possible to get to know the property inside out.

Use all your senses when viewing too, not just sight. Sniff out potential issues like dampness, and feel your way through the property to identify problems.

Remember, it’s not just the property you’ll be investing in, you’ll be a part of the wider community. Investigate the surrounding area, by day and by night, on weekdays and weekends, to understand exactly what you’ll be moving into.

You can find more viewing tips to guide you through your property search here.

Image: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com