Question 1

Practicality

Accepted Answer

If the lights are on when you arrive and it is daytime, turn them off to get a better feel for how the natural light fills the room
Is the room square? Is the floor level? Older buildings may be a little uneven, and providing this is not a structural issue, it may be nothing more than an inconvenience. It may, however, be a sign of subsidence. If you decide to progress with the sale, this should be verified during the survey
Check your mobile phone for reception in all the rooms of the house
Consider the layout. Do you have enough space to cook in the kitchen, and are there any rooms that can only be accessed by walking through others?
Is there off road parking? If not, are parking permits required? If the property is near a place of interest or a train station, the street may be full of parked cars at busy times of day
Is the garden private or is it overlooked by neighbours’ windows?
Take a tape measure together with a list of your furniture and its measurements to see if everything will fit. It might not be enough to put you off the property, but the cost of moving will go up if you need to buy new furniture

Question 2

Utilities

Accepted Answer

Check the taps for any signs of plumbing problems
Get a feel for how long it takes for hot water to run, and check that the plugs drain away efficiently
If possible, turn on the heating to check the radiators and fire up the cooker if it is being left behind
Check the light switches and power points are sensibly located and in working order

Question 3

State of repair

Accepted Answer

Check any timber framing – including that in the loft
Check external walls for cracks or discolouring
Does the property seem to be structurally sound?
Check the roof for slipped tiles and crooked chimneys – a pair of binoculars may come in handy here
Assess the ceilings for cracks and stains
Is any double glazing intact?
Open and close each external door to ensure they are secure
Look beneath rugs and behind furniture for damaged or discoloured floors and walls
Look out for woodchip wallpaper and Artex ceilings, which can be difficult to remove if they are not to your taste
Look and smell for any signs of damp, such as peeling wallpaper or stains

Question 4

Location

Accepted Answer

Check compass coordinates to see which parts of the garden and which rooms will get the most sunlight
Listen for sounds from busy roads, bus routes, nearby train lines and overhead flights. Visiting at different times of the day is essential for really understanding what the area is like. Try to visit during the week, at a weekend, during a rush hour and in the evening
Speak to other residents in the area, and not only those next door, who may have personal reasons for wanting the sale to go through or not
Speak to the local residents, this will give you a good overview of the area, local amenities and information that you wouldn’t know without living there
Have a drink in the local pub and assess other amenities, including restaurants, shops and the park. Again, visiting at different times of day will give you a better feeling for how safe the neighbourhood is, and how comfortable you will feel living there

Optimising property viewings

What to look for when viewing a property