Key points for spontaneous house viewing by a layperson

Hello everyone, this afternoon my wife’s grandmother called and said we can go look at a house tomorrow. An acquaintance is moving into a nursing home and is selling her house. Apparently, there are already a few interested parties, but the lady knew that we are also looking and wants to give us priority.

Currently, we have no photos and no information about the year of construction, price expectations, or anything similar. I am currently busy reading about what to particularly pay attention to during a house viewing. I won’t be able to get an expert on such short notice. I think that if we like the house, we will probably go with someone else again. Long story short, what should I definitely find out and what should I pay attention to? This is our very first house viewing.

Key data: village (2k inhabitants) in the Bodensee region – so as you can imagine, very limited supply everywhere

Thanks for any tip that even a layperson can check.

Thank you for every tip that even a layman can check.

Take 300 photos of all details. Roof outside and inside. Bathrooms. Fuse box or number of wires at the ceiling lamps. Heating system age and type. Radiators. Windows age and type. Basement walls - wet? Etc. You can then upload the details and get feedback from us. Otherwise, common sense helps. If something looks wet, it probably is ;-) If it looks a bit old and worn, it will probably cost money to make it reasonably livable again. But it also suggests that the property was not seriously cared for. If the floor plan doesn't suit you, it will either be expensive or possibly not convertible according to your wishes at all. ...

Depending on the year of construction, it may also be a case for demolition or complete renovation. Then, of course, one looks at it very differently than if the house is quite expensive and only a basic renovation is planned.

Super thanks, I will get back to the offer with the photos

This is roughly how we might have come to our dream property in Berlin.
Visit everything calmly and if the gut feeling/price fits, express interest. Then very quickly take an expert (e.g., a knowledgeable craftsman friend) for a second viewing and, if it is a prefab house, a building biologist.
A second viewing should actually be no problem with the reason of strong interest and the aim of a quick and problem-free transaction.

Good luck!

You should know how many rooms you want for what purpose. And if something isn’t right, there are ways to change it. So, does your family happiness and your daily routine fit into this house? Could it become your home? However, economically, you cannot turn a thatched roof house into a Bauhaus. The previous speaker already said it: gut feeling is important alongside the numbers. Many houses have a great aura. For example, you can do without an office and just build an office cabinet, or forgo a fireplace if everything else is neat. Most important are moisture damage (attic insulation, basement), mold, woodworm (roof), fungus (on the window). Wood cladding under the ceiling, sloping roof. Lift the carpet sometimes, look inside the kitchen cabinets. Sealing joints in the sanitary area: are they patchy? They are allowed to be, but if there are gaps, unpleasant things could be found behind them. Do the windows draft? Enough daylight? Without an energy certificate, nothing works anymore, does the seller know that? Ask to see the latest maintenance invoices and consumption records.