Nothing much can rival the thrill of house-hunting. That initial, carefree step into the unknown can be quite a rush. But the stakes are high, this is a huge part of your new life after all, so you don’t want to put your foot in it before you’ve even bagged the keys.
You may well be nice and relaxed viewing your would-be home, slowly weighing up its pros and cons, but make no mistake – the seller and their agent are doing the exact same thing to you, too.
With this in mind, if you’re house-hunting it's incredibly important to create a favourable impression.
It pays to remember that selling a home is much more than just a cold-hearted exchange of cash, it can be a very emotional time for the seller - who is probably saying goodbye to a property that holds many dear memories.
Their decision to sell – or not – stands every chance of resting on whether they actually like you or not, and what you might do to the property. It’s still their baby, after all!
So here are ten things you definitely should not say while hunting for your new home.
1. If you haven’t got anything nice to say about the décor, best keep it to yourself
“Ooh my nana had this wallpaper. I didn’t like it then, and I don't like it now” is perhaps a sentence best left to the confines of your own head. It may seem perfectly obvious not to criticise the seller’s property but it can be easy to let something slip. Particularly if you have established a nice, friendly rapport beforehand. An accidental insult could be the difference between you landing the property or not. A helpful trick is to imagine it's the décor you grew up with; this simple thought should stop you from stumbling into any faux pas.
2. Keep schtum on any big renovation plans you’re cooking up
It's absolutely pointless to walk on eggshells around a seller, saying yes to everything and nodding along to whatever they say. But it's essential to bear in mind the inevitable sentimentality lurking inside for the home they are selling. Imagine for a second you were selling your family home – not easy is it? Well, that’s the mindset you need to adopt. To pass it on to someone else after all that time is difficult. As such, keep any renovation plans to yourself. The last thing the seller wants to hear is how you’re going to rip up the dated kitchen and bulldoze the kids’ nursery.
3. “I’ve just inherited a million pounds, darling”
Your financial situation is something best kept to yourself. This is because it could work against you. For example if a listing is at £300,000 and you tell the agent you’re pre-approved for £500,000, you stand a great chance of them telling the seller to dig their heels in as they know you can afford more. Best to stay quiet on that one.
4. This is your dream home – but don’t say it out loud
This is an interesting one. If you are too effusive with your praise – which is very easy to do when you’re eager to please – this could drastically count against you in the long run. All the agent or seller needs is the merest hint of interest and that’s it, you have handed them some ammo to negotiate a higher offer. By all means, be polite, we want to get the house we want and being pleasant helps to facilitate this. Just save your praise for the confines of your own house.
5. Questions, questions … but do they have an answer?
It is safe to ask questions, after all there will be some burning ones you simply need answering in the here and now. The seller will be expecting them, so ask away. But we suggest caution when asking a question that can sound quite innocuous but could upset the seller. A classic example would be saying something like ‘Ooh this home is lovely. Why do you want to sell it?” There could be a wealth of reasons behind the sale, with many of them not being good. A death in the family, divorce, financial difficulty … all very personal, all very upsetting. So it is best to tread lightly and not go there. You can always ask the seller’s agent in private, of course.
6. Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours – with a little understanding
So you’re walking around a property. The owner has done that thing where they say ‘I’ll let you wander around by yourself for a bit’. So besides feeling a little bit like a burglar, what is one of the first options open to you? That’s right, going into the garden and having a chin-wag with your prospective neighbour. Again this is a time to exercise some restraint. You do not want to come across as pushy or too nosey. Keep the conversation light and respect the neighbour’s stance if they clearly do not feel like talking.
7. “I need a house, and I need it now”
Being keen is all well and good, and if you have an immediate need for housing then it is nigh on impossible to keep this to yourself. But keep it to yourself you must, for the seller and/or agent can smell desperation a mile away – and could well insist on better terms and a higher price if you divulge you are in a huge rush. As with many of these tips: think it; don’t say it.
8. “How much? That is way out of my price range!”
A very common error when perusing potential houses is to blast the asking price as being too high.
This instantly could be taken as a criticism of the home itself, with the implication being it clearly isn’t worth that amount. This is insulting to both the homeowner and the agent, whose valuation you are questioning. Likewise making a too-low offer can be offensive, as you’re effectively setting your stall out as a rather frivolous buyer – and nobody wants that.
9. “Only the perfect house will do”
The word ‘perfect’ is highly subjective, one person’s bijou flat full of character is another’s tiny hovel full of garish décor. As such, it is a good idea to have a clear vision of what you’re after but also be willing to ‘bend with the wind’ should something not fully take your fancy. It is too easy to turn your nose up at a home when in actual fact it is something of a neglected jewel waiting to be shined. Plus a lot of things such as dated décor and vulgar furniture can be changed. What we’re saying is, try to look beyond the immediate. Having said that, some things shouldn’t be overlooked – such as a very run-down garden, mould or suspicious smells …
10. Rushing through the house like you’re a Hollywood A-lister
Yes, yes, yes, you may have several properties to get through but please show a little respect. Rushing around a house like you’ve just popped into the garage to grab a pasty is not a good look. Plus you could miss something. It’s far better to give each property the attention it deserves, so slow down, clear your mind, and try to take your time. This isn’t a race, after all. It would be a shame to miss your dream home while you were looking at your watch (or phone!).
