Buying
What to check at a viewing
A viewing often lasts 20 minutes, and it is easy to leave with only an impression. A short routine for each room helps you compare homes fairly and spot what needs a closer look.
Before you go
- Check the BER on the listing. It shows how much energy the home is likely to need for heating.
- Look up what homes on the same street sold for on the Residential Property Price Register.
- Walk the area at a different time of day, to hear the traffic and see the parking.
- Bring a torch, your phone for photos and a notebook.
Inside, room by room
- Walls and ceilings: damp patches, black mould, fresh paint in a single spot, and cracks wider than a coin.
- Windows: condensation between the panes, soft or rotten frames, and whether they open.
- Heating: the age and type of the boiler or heat pump, and when it was last serviced.
- Water: run a tap and flush a toilet, and check the pressure upstairs.
- Electrics: the age of the fuse board and the number of sockets.
- Attic: the depth of the insulation, signs of leaks and the water tank.
Questions for the agent
- Why is the owner selling, and have they bought elsewhere?
- How long has the home been on the market, and have there been offers?
- Were extensions built, and is there planning permission or an exemption for them?
- For an apartment: what is the management fee, and how much is in the sinking fund?
After the viewing
Write up your notes the same day and score each home on what matters to you. If you are interested, book a second viewing, and before you bid, have a surveyor or builder look at anything that worried you.
My journey keeps this list at step 14, so you can use it on your phone at every viewing.
Worth knowing
View at least five homes before your first offer, including two you think will not suit you. It shows you what your budget buys in that area.
