Viewing etiquette when buying a home

No one wants to make a bad purchase when buying a property. It's a big investment, so you have to inspect a potential buy really well. A certain amount of looking around is essential — but how much is too much? Property viewings come with their own unwritten rules, and getting them right keeps the seller's side on your side and helps you inspect properly without overstepping. Below is a simple guide to what to do, and what not to do, when you're viewing a home.

What to do at a viewing

1. Ask lots of questions

The real estate broker is there to sell the property, so be sure to ask as many questions as you can think of. Don't leave the viewing with unanswered queries about your potential big investment. Common questions to ask include:

• Why are the owners selling?
• Have you received any offers to buy the property yet?
• Have there been any renovations done?
• Are developments planned nearby?
• How long has the property been for sale / on the market?
• Are there any known issues with the property or the neighbours' properties?

2. Check for anything that is broken

During a viewing, it should be okay to open kitchen cupboards, check the taps are working, and do similar inspection tasks. But it's a good idea to seek permission from the broker — or the owner if they're present — before you do.

3. Take photos (with permission)

Most of the time, all the photos you need should already be online in the property's listing. But if there's something not shown online, it should be acceptable to take a photo yourself — just check with the broker or owner beforehand.

What not to do at a viewing

1. Criticise the home

You're visiting someone's home. You may not like every single aspect about it, but it's guaranteed that the owner (or broker) doesn't want to hear your grumblings. If you want the broker or owner to reduce the asking price, do it through an educated, information-backed discussion — not through criticism on the spot.

2. Bring food or drinks

It's just common courtesy not to walk through someone's home while drinking or eating. The last thing you want is to accidentally drop something and leave a mess to clean up.

3. Walk through with shoes on

Again, this is someone's home — they live there, and they don't want muddy footprints through their living room. Take your shoes off at the front door before entering.

4. Snoop around

There's a difference between inspecting a property and going through someone's personal possessions. It goes without saying, but don't snoop through the home.

Get your financing ready before you fall in love with a home

Good viewing etiquette helps you inspect a home properly — but the buyers who move fastest are the ones who've sorted their financing before they start looking. Knowing your borrowing power up front means you only view homes you can realistically buy, and you can put in an offer with confidence the moment you find the right one. With Nook you can pre-qualify in about 3 minutes, then a dedicated consultant compares 20+ banks and runs your entire home loan application for you — for free, because the bank pays Nook, not you. You never fill in bank forms one by one or queue at branches. Nook's loan calculators are a quick way to check your financial capacity before your next viewing.