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May 12, 2020
3 minute read
As of today, viewing a house is now possible again – in England at least. The government are advising:
To be honest, we didn’t find that many properties with a virtual tour attached when searching online in a number of different areas. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t available on request. It very much depends on the estate agent marketing the property in the area you want to buy as to whether they are offering them up front with the property particulars.
On Zoopla you’ll find a play triangle icon next to the camera icon (photos) which means there is a video.
On Rightmove you need to look for the video tour tab next to the description.
As you can see these video tours are more promotional than comprehensive or informative. They give viewers a little bit more of an idea of the property, but we found them only slightly more helpful than the photos. You certainly don’t get every room, angle and corner of the property.
Indeed, the estate agent’s regulator, The Property Ombudsman, has warned estate agents they risk falling foul of Consumer Protection laws when conducting video viewings. Agents must make sure prospective buyers have all the material information, and video tours fall short of doing that.
If a listing whets your appetite and you want to see more now, we would advise contacting the estate agent and arranging a physical viewing in line with the guidelines above.
If you are feeling nervous about visiting the property, you could ask if the home seller could offer a live walk through via zoom, whatsapp, skype or facetime. If the seller is willing, this will give you a lot more information as well as an opportunity to ask questions or pause on a certain room. Even so, you’re unlikely to get answers to the common questions you should be looking for at a physical viewing.
No! Video tours or online walkabouts with the owner/tenant are intended as a first filter, giving you an insight into a property.
You must see the property yourself before putting in an offer. It’s one of the most important decisions and biggest financial outlays you’re likely to ever make. So we recommend you wait until it is safe for estate agents to conduct viewings in person again before making offers.
If money is no object or you’re super keen to secure a home, you could speak to your agent about making an ‘offer agreed subject to viewing.’
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