We make buyers fit for the appointment

If the first key data of the property fit well with their own ideas, the next step is usually a tour of the apartment or house. Often this represents a very emotional situation for the prospective buyer. In metropolitan areas there are usually several applicants for attractive objects - there one would like to make not least also a good impression.

In addition comes the abundance of information and impressions, which affect the prospective buyers during a viewing tour. Many questions to the broker are with a house and a housing inspection therefore no rarity, but the rule. Not least it concerns thereby finally the important question whether the purchase price (or the set rent) is justified.

There it is called: cool head keep, prepare well and use the inspection date in the best possible way for itself. This is exactly what we want to arm you professionally with the next sections.

What awaits you in this article:

1. You will learn what you can clarify before a viewing appointment.
2. You get a checklist with all the important points for the inspection.
3. You get supplementary tips around house and apartment inspections.

Prepare property inspections properly: Our checklist for buyers

The purchase of a property is a life decision that should be made on the basis of sound information. Even before a viewing, it is therefore important to clarify as many questions as possible to use the time on site for open points. You may also learn something in advance that makes a live inspection unnecessary. Then you save precious time and can devote yourself to other objects.

You can already clarify these questions before a property inspection:

• - Is an online inspection possible? In particular since 2020, there is in many places the possibility of a remote viewing. The broker runs thereby with a camera through the house and is live via online conference, for example, via tablet or smartphone. The main advantages of this option are obvious: the journey is omitted, the appointment is usually possible at very short notice and it can easily participate friends or family members.
• - Was there damage or defects in the property? For existing properties, the principle of "purchased as seen" applies. In retrospect, no defects can be claimed, unless structural damage was fraudulently concealed.
• - Does your bank give you a financing confirmation of the financing amount? Then you can immediately hand over a corresponding document at the viewing, which, by the way, you can get through VON POLL FINANCE. So you underline your ability to act quickly.
• -What documents about the property can you get in advance? Exposé, current land register excerpt, parcel map, energy certificate, building encumbrance register, living space calculation of the architect, floor plan, development plan, renovation measures - advance information such as this is extremely helpful for you to get a first overview and prepare questions for the viewing appointment. On all these topics, we are of course happy to advise you: Here you can contact us.
• - What does the infrastructure around the property look like? On a preliminary walk in the area, you can easily check points such as shopping facilities, connection to public transport, distances to schools, doctors and parking, as well as gather first impressions about the neighborhood. Extra tip: Drive by on weekdays as well as weekends, as there can sometimes be noticeable situational differences.
  • - What is happening in the neighborhood and what can be said about the location of the property? Be curious about the surroundings of the property, what conspicuous features there are and whether currently, for example, is being built or a generational change takes place. In the broker world is not for nothing the credo 'location, location, location' - the location factors at the micro and macro level (bspw. infrastructure, local recreation, basic services, cultural offerings, green spaces and much more) decide very much about the quality of living.

Supplementary it should be said that you can also make in advance on the search for a real estate expert. This you can then consult at a possible second appointment quickly and easily.

Our checklist to download: so you use your viewing appointment efficiently

During the viewing appointment, it is important to keep all the crucial questions and points in mind. Therefore, for prospective real estate buyers, we have created a checklist for the inspection when buying a house as well as condominiums, which you can go through during the on-site meeting. Feel free to print out multiple copies of the checklist after downloading so that you can compare multiple properties as needed. Such comparisons are ideal for exploring the question: What do I get with which property at which purchase price?

Our 10 tips around your house and apartment inspection

Our brokers accompany every year countless prospective buyers to viewing appointments. We are very happy to pass on this many years of experience to you.

With these 10 tips you are well positioned for your viewing appointment:

1. Stay objective. Emotions are part of the topic of real estate. But even if you are spontaneously enthusiastic about an object, the following applies: Remain objective-sober and pay attention to every detail.
2. Visit everything. Do not leave out any room, just because, for example, there is no longer enough time. In this case, rather arrange a follow-up appointment to be able to take everything in sight.
3. Come in pairs. Whether partner, friend or family member: the second person will pay attention to other things than you and therefore offers you a different - usually also more objective - view of the object.
4. Visit in daylight. In the dark, any defects in the building fabric often can not be seen exactly.
5. Change the inspection time. If you were on site in the morning at the first appointment, it is recommended to put the second appointment in the afternoon. At a different time of day or on a different day of the week offer you other impressions of the object (sun position, traffic, neighborhood, football field nearby, etc.).
6. Make many photos. Document things that are important to you or were not seen on the exposé. You should also have a folding rule with you to check measurements.
7. ask questions. You can not be curious enough during the inspection. Whether neighborhood, background noise, building law issues or previous damage: everything is interesting for you to get the broadest possible basis for decision-making for your possible property acquisition.
8. Roof, windows, heating - when was renovated? Infos like this are particularly important to be able to estimate the investment budget within the next few years. This will also give you an indication of whether the level of the current sales price is justified.
9. Insist on a follow-up appointment. It is your right to take another look at the property live if you are unsure about some points. In doing so, also take advantage of the opportunity to take an expert - or, of course, the professional real estate consultant you trust.
10. Make a pros and cons list. Create for yourself after the viewing appointment a list with all the pros and cons of a property and draw an honest résumé.

Conclusion: A viewing appointment brings a lot of emotions and information with it, which prospective buyers must sort for themselves. At the same time, it is also a great opportunity to get clarity on the decision-making process when buying real estate. It is all the more important to go into such an appointment well prepared to really address all the crucial points and evaluate them for themselves.