Making an offer and having it accepted on a home is an exciting milestone. But in the thrill of the moment, it’s common to later realize you still have lingering questions or want another look. This post covers your legal rights in the UK to request a second property viewing after offer. You’ll also get tips to make the most of another visit.
Key Takeaways: Exercising Your UK Property Viewing Rights
Here are the vital points to remember about making a second property viewing:
- You have reasonable rights to request reaccess, especially if concerns arise from a survey.
- Be upfront about why you need another visit when asking for permission.
- Focus any second viewing on gathering details important for your purchase decision.
- Stay respectful of the sellers and current occupants during any walkthrough.
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Your Right to View a UK Property Again After Offer
First, let’s review the typical process once your offer on a home is accepted:
- The seller accepts your offer.
- The property is taken off the market during negotiations.
- You arrange a survey and your mortgage financing.
- Conveyancing legal work gets underway.
- Completion day arrives when you get the keys.
During this stretch between offer accepted and completion day, buyers unfortunately lose access rights to the property. So you can’t just pop over unannounced for another viewing.
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However, UK law does grant buyers reasonable rights to reinspect a property they’ve made an offer on, especially if concerns arise. For example, if your survey identified serious damp, you could request another visit to investigate further.
According to guidance from the Advisory, buyers have the right to a reinspection if:
- Your surveyor recommends another look due to issues found.
- You need to measure rooms or bring in contractors for quotes.
- Any other reasonable purpose related to the purchase.
The key is being upfront about why you need another visit and scheduling it for a convenient time. Sellers can refuse, but they’d need good reason.
Top Reasons to Request a Second Viewing
Why might buyers want another viewing after making an offer? Here are some of the most common motivations:
1. Assuage Doubts or Panic
The emotional swing between excitement upon offer acceptance and worries after can be intense. Another walk through helps settle your mind that you’ve made the right decision.
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2. Notice Things You Missed
It’s impossible to catch every little detail on a first viewing when you’re also trying to imagine yourself living there. Revisiting helps spot things you overlooked.
3. Visualize Changes You’d Make
A second viewing presents the perfect chance to picture modifications you hope to make like knocking down a wall or remodeling the kitchen.
4. Bring Others to Get a Second Opinion
Dragging your reluctant partner or opinionated parent back for another look can help confirm you’ve picked the right place.
Tips to Maximize a Second Property Viewing
If you get permission for another visit, make the most of the opportunity with these tips:
- Be respectful of current occupants. Don’t intrude on their space or overstay your welcome.
- Bring a checklist. Note any concerns from your survey to investigate or measurements you need to take.
- Take photos. Thoroughly document anything you want a closer record of like problem areas or rooms you plan to remodel.
- Ask questions. Compile any lingering queries about the property ahead to discuss.
You might also:
- Explore the neighborhood again if you can’t access inside.
- Research similar house layouts and designs online if a visit isn’t possible.
- Rely on professional inspection reports for unknowns.
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Final Thoughts
While not always necessary, a second look can provide invaluable peace of mind. It lets you confirm your choice or catch issues early on. Just be sure to exercise your UK property viewing rights politely and reasonably.
What questions do you still have about making another property visit after your offer gets accepted? Share your thoughts below!
Samuel is a finance expert with over a decade of banking and investment experience. He provides readers with practical, actionable advice on personal finance topics ranging from retirement planning to taxes. Samuel combines his professional knowledge with his passion for writing to make complex financial subjects easy to understand. When he’s not publishing articles, you can find this local dad exploring the city with his family.
