Property viewing - what you should look out for beforehand

It worked: after a long search for a new home, an estate agent has invited you to view the property. As the new owner, you can already see yourself sitting on the sofa in newly furnished rooms. However, there is still a long way to go before you can draw out your pen to sign the purchase contract. Step 1: Preparing for the viewing.

There is great joy when an invitation to view a property arrives. After all, it could finally be the new home you've been waiting for so long. Despite all the excitement: don't dress up, stay relaxed, take a good look around, ask all the questions that are on the tip of your tongue, listen to your gut feeling and prepare yourself well! We explain what you as a prospective buyer can know before a viewing.

Preparation: questions that can be answered in advance

Before you stand in the corner exhausted by information during the viewing, you can take a look at the basic key points beforehand. For example, find out about the living space, the year of construction, the floor plan and the size of the plot in the exposé.

Also important: the location. A look at the Internet will tell you the connections, the nearest supermarket or where you can find a doctor nearby. Or you can drive past the property. You can also take a look at the neighbors, see if there is a source of noise in the immediate vicinity or estimate how far it is to your workplace. In addition to the photos in the exposé, you can also take a 360-degree tour to get a good first impression of the property. Basically, you should ask yourself whether the property matches your ideas and future plans and what compromises you would be willing to make. You should make a note of any other questions you have about the property and take them with you for the estate agent to view.

Even a glance at the documents can answer many questions in advance. If you can, take a look at the following: Energy certificate, extract from the land register, cadastral map, building plans of the municipality as well as the register of contaminated sites and building encumbrances. The estate agent can also explain to you in advance what you will find there and why these documents are important.

During the viewing: What questions should I not ask?

Basically, you can ask anything about the property. Also about damage and defects or why and how long the property has been for sale, how many interested parties there are, what the neighborhood is like and when the house was last renovated to make it more energy efficient. You should avoid questions about the private life of the previous owners or what they need the money for that you will pay them for the property. Otherwise: show interest, look in every corner and ask the estate agent questions. If you like the property: be sure to ask for a second appointment and whether you can reserve the property.

Have you been invited by us for a viewing and would like to know what to expect? Or are you looking for a property for the first time? Just ask us! We will be happy to advise you.

Note

For reasons of better readability, the generic masculine is used in this text. Female and other gender identities are explicitly included where this is necessary for the statement.

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice in individual cases. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your specific individual case.

Photo: © AndreyPopov/Depositphotos.com