The essential questions to ask when viewing a property
I dare say we’ve all been there after a house viewing - “I wish I’d remembered to ask…”
House-hunting is an exciting journey, but it is important to be objective and balance your head and heart. Being well prepared before your viewings could save you both time and money.
So to help you, I’ve written a list of the best questions to ask on a viewing. A good estate agent should be able to answer many of your questions on the viewing, or with more specific information, get back to you once they have received it from the seller.
What might be even better though is if you use this as a basis for your own list. Write down any questions or things that matter most to you about your prospective home, and take this along to refer to.
Trust me, this helps when you have seen a few properties and they start to merge into one!
The key questions to ask:
You've found a property that you think ticks all the boxes, but how do you find out whether or not it is the right property for you? There are a number of questions you can ask to get a clearer picture, this is my top 10. Whilst in no particular order, these are all key questions and considerations which every serious home buyer should consider or ask:
- What is the local area like?
- Does the property have any parking? If yes, how many spaces and are they allocated/shared?
- Why is the seller moving?
- How long have the owners lived there?
- What are the neighbours like?
- Does the property need updating?
- Are there any issues with the building?
- What is the council tax band?
- Does the property have enough natural light?
- Could you see yourself living there?
Questions for the seller (if you meet them):
If you have the chance to speak directly with the seller, this offers an opportunity to ask about some things even the best estate agent may not know. Here are some ideas off what to ask them:
- Have you found somewhere to move to?
- Are there any nuisance or noisy neighbours who live nearby?
- What are the best and worst bits about living in the property?
- Have there been any problems with the property when it comes to its structure?
- Have they done any renovations? If so, do they have the relevant certificates
Questions for the estate agent:
On your viewing, don't forget to ask the estate agent showing you round the property:
- How long the property has been on the market?
- Has anyone made an offer on the property yet? If so, is the seller happy to say what the offer was and why they turned it down?
- How did you arrive at the asking price?
- Have you sold any other properties in the area? If so, what did they sell for?
- How long have the owners lived there?
Questions about the property:
These are some more detail-oriented questions about the property itself, its maintenance and condition:
- Is the property in a conservation area?
- If parking is all on-street, how easy is it to get a spot and what does it cost?
- How busy is the road?
- Have any insurance claims been made relating to the property? If so, what were they for?
- How much did the property last sell for? And when?
- Have prices gone up sharply in the area (or down)? Is there a reason for this?
- In which direction does the property face?
- Is the property energy efficient?
- Are there any signs of damp? Does the property smell dank?
- Is there central heating?
- How old is the boiler? When was it last serviced?
- Is the property insulated, including loft/roof space?
- Are the windows double-glazed?
- Are there any signs of subsidence?
- Are there any major cracks in the walls or doors not closing properly?
- Has the property been well maintained?
Keep in mind that the viewing offers you the best opportunity to dig deep, and find out as much as you can about your prospective new home.
I hope you find this guide helpful on your next viewing!
Lucy Egan | Managing Director
