Property Viewings Checklist

Viewing properties can be exciting especially if it’s your first home. However, it can be easy to miss certain things that may bother you down the line or even cost money to fix.

Here are a few things to think about when viewing a property.

Take Your Time

Don’t rush the viewing, take your time to really take the property in and get a feel for the place. You should spend at least 20-30 minutes viewing the inside of a property and a further 20-30 minutes checking the outside and walking around the neighbourhood.

The Structure of the Building

Take time to walk around the outside of the property and check the exterior. Look for any dampness, cracks, missing or loose tiles on the roof, and the guttering. If you find anything, you should question it and ask if it’ll be fixed.

Look and Smell

Sellers may try to cover certain things up, painting over damp or coving floor issues with a rug, etc. This is where you need to rely on your smell, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn't there. If it smells musty or they’ve used air freshener be on alert for something suspicious.

View the Property More Than Once

It’s best to see a property more than once, the more you view it the more you can see problematic things you never noticed before. View it at different times of the day to get a proper feel for the location and home.

Have Professional Survey Done

Mortgage lenders will request that you have a valuation survey carried out, however, this is different as it doesn't look at the condition of the property and you may not even see the report even if you’re paying for it. You should have an independent survey carried out to uncover any issues.

Keep Your Emotions at Bay

It’s not always easy but be objective when looking at the property, you don’t want to seem too eager, but you need to rule with your head, so you don't overlook any issues.

If there are minor issues, don’t let them stop you from buying, you could use these to negotiate the price of the property.

We hope these tips will help if you are viewing property.

If you are looking to move, and need advice, you can get in touch with our team here.