Viewing a home: the full checklist

A viewing is twenty minutes to learn as much as you can. Go prepared, look past the staging and ask the questions the agent hopes you will not. Tick as you go; your ticks are saved.

Before you go

Look the property up on the land registry and previous listings: has the price dropped? Was it sold recently?
Check the EPC rating and flood risk online (both free)
Check the council tax band
Look at the street on a map: what is behind the garden? How near is the main road?
Take your property wishlist and a tape measure

Etiquette

Be on time, be polite and keep your poker face. Do not say "we love it" in front of the agent or seller; it costs you money at negotiation time. Ask if you can take photos.

Outside

Roof and gutters look sound; no slipped tiles or plants growing in gutters
No cracks in the walls, especially stepped cracks or around windows and doors
Windows in good condition (double glazed? any misting between panes?)
Where does rainwater go? Any standing water?
Garden boundaries clear; fences in good repair
Parking and access work for you

Inside

No damp smells or marks; look behind furniture, under sinks and in corners of ceilings
Boiler age, service history and where the stopcock is
Fuse box looks modern (RCD switches, not old fuses)
Water pressure at the taps and shower
Phone signal and broadband speed (run a speed test on your phone)
Enough storage and plug sockets
Natural light; view at a different time of day if you can
Loft: insulated? Any signs of leaks?

Ask the agent

Why are they selling and how long has it been on the market?
Have there been any offers?
Is there a chain and how long is it?
What is included in the sale (white goods, curtains, shed)?
Any work done recently and is there paperwork for it?
Any disputes with neighbours or planning applications nearby?
Typical energy bills
For flats: service charge, ground rent, years left on the lease and any planned major works

Think ahead

Could I sell this easily in five years?
Is there room to grow or change the layout?
What would I need to spend in the first year?

Afterwards

Walk the street at a different time of day, ideally after dark
Compare it against your wishlist before you let yourself fall for it
View a second time before you offer, with a friend who will be blunt