Viewing a house for the first time is exciting, but it’s often over in the blink of an eye, and there’s so much to take in, from checking the practical essentials to imagining where your furniture might fit.
While it’s natural to focus on the features of your dream home that immediately catch your eye, like a beautifully fitted kitchen or a sunny garden, there are so many important details that need your attention during your first viewing. Missing these could impact how much you enjoy living there and potentially your wallet down the line.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced property purchaser, this guide will remind you of what to look for when viewing a house and ask the right questions before you decide to put in an offer and start the process of residential conveyancing.
Getting Ready to View a House
- Research the local area using Rightmove or Zoopla to check similar property prices and get a feel for the neighbourhood.
- Check the property's flood risk online. It only takes a minute but could save you from nasty surprises later!
- Pack a tape measure, a printout of this house viewing checklist, a pen, and a small torch for checking dark corners, like outbuildings or the loft.
Arriving at the House Viewing
It’s worth arriving early and taking time to have a proper look at the outside of the property and the road it is on.
Location Check
- See if there are signs that parking is restricted. Do you have to park on the road? Is it permit parking, or is it a free-for-all that might make getting your weekly shop in a bit of an adventure?
- Take your phone out to check if you have signal and how many bars.
- If you've driven, turn off your engine and wind down the windows. Look and listen for things that might irritate you later, like busy roads, flight paths, and railway lines.
- Explore the local area, looking out for transport links, local shops and amenities. If the property is right by a pub, it might be lovely for a Sunday roast but less great at chucking-out time on a Friday night.
Outside the Property: The Building's Health Check
- Have a good look at those exterior walls to check for cracks bigger than a 10p piece. Hairline cracks are usually just cosmetic, but bigger ones might need investigating.
- Check if any of the bricks seem a bit crumbly or if the pointing (that's the mortar between the bricks) needs some TLC.
- Inspect the tiles on the roof, the guttering and the chimney. If any are wonky, damaged or missing, it could spell trouble.
Inside Your Potential New Home: The Room-by-Room Checklist
Take your time to wander around the property you’re viewing. Buying a property is a big step, and you need to make sure you have all the information before you decide on making an offer.
The Basics
- Take a good sniff as you walk in (sounds weird, we know!). Any musty smells could mean there's damp lurking somewhere.
- Investigate the walls in the corners and near the floor. Can you spot any nasty black mould patches? It could be condensation (not ideal, but fixable) or something more serious like rising dampness.
- Glance up at those ceilings - are there any suspicious-looking brown patches? That could be a leaky roof or maybe just a dodgy bath seal upstairs.
- Have a peek at the property's energy performance certificate (EPC). It'll give you a good idea of how much it'll cost to keep warm in winter.
The Practical Stuff: Making Sure Everything Works
- Take a closer look at the windows. Is the double glazing clear, or is there that annoying misty patch between the panes? That usually means the seal's gone, and you might need new windows.
- Flick the light switches in each room - do they all work?
- Check how many plug sockets there are. Trust us, you can never have too many!
- Run the taps to check the water pressure. Pay attention to the hot water, too - if it takes ages to warm up, it might be worth querying the boiler's age and service history.
- Request the electrical safety certificate for the house. Watch out for any electrical sockets that are loose, scorched, or making crackling noises.
- Find out how old the boiler is (they usually last about 10-15 years), when it was last serviced, and if they've got any service history paperwork.
- If the house has been extended, ask if the owner has the necessary Building Regulations certificates to prove that it was done safely.
The Kitchen
- Keep an eye out for signs of uninvited guests in the store cupboards, like droppings or chewed bits. Mice or rats are not the end of the world, but they can do damage, so it definitely needs investigating!
- Have a peek under the sink and around the washing machine space. Any signs of leaks or water damage?
The Bathroom
- Give the shower a proper going-over and scrutinise those tiles: any wobbly ones or dodgy grouting? It could mean water's getting where it shouldn't.
- Check the silicon seal around the bath or shower - if it's a bit tired, you might want to factor in getting it replaced.
- Switch on the extractor fan (if there is one) to check it is working. Good ventilation is super important in bathrooms.
- Turn the taps on full blast and check if the water drains away quickly. If it's slow, it could be a sign the plumbing needs some TLC.
- While the taps are running, take a glimpse at those pipe joints under the sink. Are there any drips or signs of past leaks?
Living Spaces
- Give the walls a gentle tap. If they sound a bit hollow in places, it means they're stud walls (totally normal, but worth knowing if you're planning to mount your massive telly!).
- Walk right into the middle of each room. Are there any squeaky floorboards or dips? It could need a quick fix, or it might be telling you something's not quite right underneath.
- If the house has exposed beams, wooden stairs or wooden floors, check for signs of woodworm. Those little holes might seem innocent enough, but you'll want to know if they've got active residents!
- Carefully put your hand on the radiators. If the heating is on, check they're warming up evenly. If they have cold spots at the top, they probably need bleeding.
Bedrooms
- Check out those built-in wardrobes if there are any. Open the doors, look inside with your torch, and have a sniff - any mildewy smells or damp patches could spell trouble.
- Open the windows to make sure they open properly, and if they're meant to be fire escapes, check you can actually get out of them in an emergency.
- Stand quietly for a minute - can you hear the neighbours? What about traffic?
Hallways and Landings
- Have a nosey at any built-in cupboards to see if they're actually usable or full of meters and pipes!
- Give those exterior doors a proper look-see, checking for decent locks (a five-lever mortice lock is what you want). Watch for any scratches around the locks or damage to the frames.
- Inspect the condition of the windows, especially if they're near the front door. Ground floor windows should have proper locks, and any glass should be toughened or double-glazed.
- Use the handrail as you walk up the stairs - are there any wobbly bannisters or creaky steps?
- Measure the width of the stairs - is there enough space to get furniture up and down? That king-size bed won't be much use if you can't get it upstairs!
- Ask about access to the loft. If there's no ladder, factor that into your budget - it's a nice-to-have that'll make your life loads easier.
The Outdoor Areas Viewing Checklist
If the garden is in bloom, it might look stunning now. But hidden behind the foliage, there could be all kinds of trouble, so make sure you take time to look around.
Gardens
- Question which fences or walls fall inside the property's boundary and are actually yours to maintain. Give them a good check too - wobbly fences or crumbly walls might need repairing sooner rather than later.
- If there are trees, ask if any have preservation orders on them as it means you can't chop them down if they start causing bother.
- If there are big trees near to house, ask if they have ever caused any problems with the foundations or drains.
- Scan the garden for any signs that water pools in low-lying areas. Soggy patches might mean you're going to have a mini swimming pool every time it rains!
Outbuildings and Extra Bits
- Take note of the state of the roof of any sheds, garages or outbuildings. Cast your eye over the walls and doors too, so you can see if they need replacing or fixing.
- If you've got a conservatory, give it a proper once-over. Any leaks around the edges where it joins the house?
- Check access to the back garden. Is there a back gate? Or will you have to bring everything through the house?
- Measure the size of the garden if you have large garden furniture, football goals or trampolines that you want to bring with you.
- Find out if any of the outside areas have rights of way (easements) or shared access. This might change how you feel about the property.
General Questions to Ask the Estate Agent When Buying a House
While you viewing a property, make the most of your time with the estate agent or seller, as they can be a goldmine of information. Here’s a list of questions you should ask (and trust us, there is no such thing as a silly question when you’re potentially spending this much money!).
- Why are the current owners selling up? This might seem a bit nosey, but it could tell you a lot!
- How long has the property been up for sale? If it's been on the market for a long time, there might be issues with the house that give you room to negotiate the price!
- Has the seller found their next home? If they have, brilliant - it means they're ready to move, and things might happen quickly.
- What fixtures and fittings are included in the sale? Those brand-new white goods? That fancy light fitting you've fallen in love with?
- Is there any history of neighbour disputes? Better to know now than find out the hard way!
- What are the council tax, utilities, and insurance typically running at? This helps you work out if you can actually afford to live there once you've paid the mortgage!
- Is the property listed, or have any restrictive covenants? This might affect how you can use the property or what changes you can make to it.
Top Tips for After the Property Viewing
If you have followed this handy checklist for house viewing, you’ll have a lot of information about the property in your head. Jot down everything from first impressions to any red flags you spotted so you don’t forget any details. This is especially important if you’re house hunting and seeing lots of properties. If you took any photos, it’s worth organising them into a folder so they don’t get muddled with other properties, too.
Take time to think about the asking price and use your notes from this property viewing checklist to decide if it’s a fair price. Consider how much work needs to be done to the property, and be realistic about how much you can do yourself. Often those “I could probably fix that myself” jobs end up needing a professional!
If necessary, you can always request a second viewing to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Sometimes, it’s helpful to ask a friend or family member to attend the viewing with you, as they might notice things about the condition of the property that you missed.
Once you are happy you have explored everything you need to know, and if it is the right property, you can use what you’ve learned to make an offer. Don’t be afraid to use the state of the property as a bargaining chip to negotiate a better price.