Using a house viewing checklist means you’ll cover all the bases when viewing properties and won’t miss anything important.
Our checklist covers the interior, exterior and takes you room-by-room.
Plus, we list the extra things that should be on your checklist if you’re viewing a flat.
Print off our house viewing checklist and take it with you when you’re viewing properties.
Then compare your notes between different properties before you make an offer.
Buying a house is likely to be your biggest financial decision so it’s vital you know exactly what to look for when viewing a house. That way you’ll be more likely to find a property that suits your needs best and you’ll be on the alert for any potential pitfalls.
Your step-by-step house viewing checklist
Here’s our checklist of everything to look for when viewing a house. The list opens as you click on it or there is a downloadable version you can print and take with you. While not everything on this list will be important to you, these are the common areas people tell us they wish they had checked.
First impressions: Check the exterior
Check the condition of the window frames. And they well maintained and are the windows double glazed?
If the wall is rendered, what’s its condition?
Is the brickwork in good condition and are there any cracks?
Look at the roof: can you see any damaged or loose tiles?
Check the state of the fascias – these are the bands under the edge of the roof.
Are the drains and gutters blocked or leaking?
Are there any large trees close to the house that could potentially cause problems?
When you’re viewing a house, there’s a lot to think about. Before you go, read through these tips to help you stay on track.
1. Don’t feel rushed
Our house viewing checklist may seem a lot but you don’t have to cover off everything in one go. And it’s important to make sure you have enough time to look up from the checklist and get a proper feel for the property. Ideally view the house 2 to 3 times and at different times of day. You’re more likely to spot potential issues when viewing a house for the second or third time and you’ll also see how light, traffic and surrounding noise levels change throughout the day.
Estate agents will sometimes arrange open house viewings to create a buzz around the property. You’ll usually be surrounded by other potential buyers but don’t let this make you feel pressurised. Inspect the property as thoroughly as you would if you were viewing it on your own.
2. Take someone with you
Try not to go alone, or plan to take someone with you on the second viewing if it passes the first look round. Take someone with you who you trust as your second pair of eyes and a sounding board. Even better if they have a building or structural engineering background.
3. Keep your emotions in check
It’s easier said than done, but when you’re viewing a house try to do it objectively. If you fall in love with a house, you may overlook issues that could end up being major problems that impact your ability to enjoy it, like damp. It’s also a good idea not to be too gushing and play your cards close to your chest in the event you want to make an offer below asking price.
4. Make notes for your surveyor
Spotting faults shouldn’t necessarily put you off buying altogether. No house is perfect and given it is someone’s home, you should expect some wear and tear. But if there are things you spot that you’re worried about, or are simply unsure about, make a note to ask your surveyor to investigate further. You can read our guide about the different types of survey and how much they cost.
When you’re viewing a house, you’ll need to think about the practicalities of living there. Storage space is a valuable but often overlooked asset when you are looking at potential homes to buy. Where will you keep your vacuum cleaner, the bike, towels, spare linen, and boxes of junk? Is there room for cupboards or shelves to be built in? Especially in newly built houses, storage space can be scarce.
6. Don’t be fooled by staging
If you’re buying a new build home off-plan, viewing the show home will help you make your decision. However, we’ve heard of new build home developers putting smaller furniture in rooms to make them seem bigger. Be warned! Also, check whether all the fixtures and fittings come as standard – the show home may be fitted with some expensive, optional extras. And be aware that the show home will have been styled by a professional to make it look as good as possible.
If the sellers have the radio or television on ask for it to be turned down to check how much you can hear from next door and the road.
8. Can you add value?
When you’re viewing a house, consider whether you’d be able to improve or extend the property to make it a nicer home to live in and add value too. Could you undertake a loft conversion to create an extra bedroom or a garage conversion to extend your living space? However, it’s easy to get carried away when it comes to thinking about adding value. So if this is a factor in your decision of whether or not to put in an offer on a house, you should find out more about the process of how to go about it and how much your plans would cost. A good place to start is by reading our guide Home Extensions: Where do I start?
9. What’s the area like?
When it comes to what to look for when viewing a house it’s not just the property you’ll need to consider. You also want to consider the area too – are there shops nearby? are you under a flightpath or near noisy roads? And being near a good school may be convenient but are your roads congested at school run time?Google street view is a great way to explore the area in the comfort of your own home but nothing beats looking around the area yourself.
10. Do you get a good vibe?
And most importantly, does it feel like you could make it your home? Are you excited? Does it have more going for it than not?
10 Things To Look For When Viewing A House | Property Viewing Checklist
WARNING! Be on guard to spot these issues which could cost £1000s to fix
Check carefully for the following potential issues on your house viewing as they could be signs that expensive repairs will be required. If you’re haven’t got much budget beyond the house price, you might not want to proceed. If you’re still keen on the house, ask your surveyor to take a closer look. Then get quotes for repairs and look to negotiate the cost off of the purchase price. Our guide What to do if you get a bad house survey covers how to do this.
Are there signs of damp?
Keep an eye out for the signs of damp when you’re viewing a house. The main giveaways are a mouldy smell, flaky plaster, and watermarked walls or ceilings. Sellers will often try to cover up signs of damp, such as by repainting. So look carefully and be on guard for any unusual smells, including an air freshener that may be in place to try to cover the smell of damp.
Condition of the windows
Check the state of the external window frames. This is a great indicator of the state of the house – if people have invested in and looked after those, they are likely to have taken great care of the rest. If you can easily push your finger into wooden window frames, they are usually rotten. If there is condensation between double-glazed window-panes it means that they are faulty. New windows need to be installed by a registered approved inspector so you should get a FENSA or similar certificate, which often come with guarantees. You or your conveyancing solicitor can ask the homeowner when they were installed and whether they have any certificates.
Signs of possible structural issues
Big cracks are what to look for when buying a house. Look especially around where extensions join, end-of-terrace walls, and bay windows, all of which can start to fall or bow away from the rest of the house. Some cracks look bad but may be simple cracks in the plaster. So flag it up to your surveyor to investigate further.
State of the roof
Replacing a roof is a very expensive business, and newer roofs have a life expectancy of only 15-20 years, depending on the materials. So it’s vital you consider this when it comes to what to look for when viewing a house.
Also, if the property has a flat or nearly flat roof, check out the material with which it sealed. Nowadays a membrane is used and is better than asphalt and gravel, which can leave seams and edges unsealed.
The electrics
Dodgy wiring can be dangerous, and rewiring your new home can be a very expensive business. Also check out the fuse board – often an indication of the state of the wiring. A survey will confirm if it needs replacing an the likely costs involved.
Boiler and plumbing
Run the taps to check the water pressure. Ask if the pipes are insulated, and ensure they are not lead which would have to be replaced. Do the radiators actually work? How old is the boiler and when was it last serviced? If the hot water tank is situated in the roof it is probably an old one, and may have to be replaced soon are all things to look for when buying a house.
And never just take the estate agent’s word for it that everything is OK. When you buy a property it’s advisable to arrange to get a house survey done.
A typical house viewing lasts around 30 minutes so you should have long enough to cover your checklist of what to look for when viewing a house. Ideally view the house 2 to 3 times and at different times of day.
What do I need to do before a viewing?
To get the most out of your viewing, read the full guide above and print off our house viewing checklist. You may wish to add a list of additional things you’d like to check and remember to take your checklist with you to the house viewing.
HomeOwners Alliance Ltd is registered in England, company number 07861605. Information provided on HomeOwners
Alliance is not intended as a recommendation or financial advice.
Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), Unit 26 (2.06), Newark Works, 2 Foundry Lane, Bath
BA2 3GZ, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 143002). The FCA does not regulate
most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your
mortgage.
HomeOwners Alliance Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of Seopa Ltd, for home insurance,
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN: 313860).
HomeOwners Alliance Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of LifeSearch Limited, an Appointed
Representative of LifeSearch Partners Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. (FRN:
656479).
Independent Financial Adviser service is provided by Unbiased, who match you to a fully regulated, independent
financial adviser, with no charge to you for the referral.
Bridging Loan and specialist lending service provided by Chartwell Funding Limited, registered office 5 Badminton Court, Station Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5HZ, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 458223). Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any debt secured on it.
