AFTER GOING AT the saving all guns blazing to get a deposit together, then securing mortgage approval and getting all your documents in one place, finally choosing your dream home should be the easy part.

But ask any homeowner and they’ll tell you that the viewing and bidding process is often where things can get nightmarish. After all, you’re essentially competing with every other buyer on the market for those front door keys.

While you can’t suddenly double your budget or convince every other prospective buyer to bow out, what you can do is arrive to each viewing ready to wow the estate agent – and to find out the information nobody else knows.

Whether your aim is to leave a great first impression or discover what the real pros and cons of the property are, here are four killer questions that’ll put you one step ahead – and watch our video above for a guide on how to prep before you arrive…

1. Why do you reckon this place hasn’t sold yet? If a property that seems perfect has been on the market for more than a few months, that could be an alarm bell in the current market. Be bold – ask the estate agent why she or he thinks it’s still on offer.

2. Why is the owner selling up? Figuring out why the owner is moving on will not only satisfy your nosy streak, but it’ll give an indication on whether the seller is keen for a quick sale and might budge on the asking price.

3. What are the neighbours like? You’re not just buying a property, you’re buying a place in a community, so find out who you’ll be living near, what the facilities are and if there’s parking. Before you view the house, take a drive around yourself and suss the place out.

And the real cheeky one…

4. How did you land on that asking price? The figure wasn’t just pulled out of the air, right? Figure out what the asking price is really based on, and don’t be afraid to point out other houses in the area at a lower asking price.

When you’re making the decision to sell up or renovate, everyone will have their opinion – and won’t think twice about letting you know what it is. But how do you block out the noise and get to the point?

At permanent tsb, we value finding a better way. If you’re house-hunting, or even just saving for your deposit, you’ll want to do things the right way. Head over to our Bring It Home Hub  for the inside scoop.

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