What to Look for when on a House Viewing

Looking for a home can be a whirlwind. It's exciting and fun but can also be stressful and time consuming. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a homeowner looking for the next step, house viewings are a key element of the journey.

To ensure you have all the right property information and have an easy and enjoyable process, we've put together some of our top tips in this guide, 'What to Look for in a House Viewing'.

Know Your Needs

Whether you're buying on your own or with someone else, it's worth spending some time to jot down a list of your needs. This might include broad requests such as natural light, period features or good value on square foot. It might have more specific requests including a garden, a spare room for a home office or a catchment area for a good school in mind. Having a list will help you not only better navigate searches online but also help create a shortlist of houses to view, as you'll have a good understanding about whether it has potential before you spend time seeing it in person.

Conduct Checks

When inside the property, don't be shy when it comes to checking the kitchen and bathroom. Check for damp or signs of moisture, mould or condensation. Ensure the ventilation is efficient. Turn on the tap and get a feel for the water pressure. These are all things the estate agent is used to seeing so don't be shy!

Look for Cracks or Signs of Settling

It's easy to be swept up by the style and decorating of a house. Whether the house has been luxuriously staged as a new build or is a lovingly restored period property, be sure to assess the bricks and exterior façade as well as the internal plaster for cracks. It's common, for example, to see vertical hairline cracks around doors and windows or slightly wider cracks in plaster as a renovation or new build settles. Horizontal cracks or visible cracks in bricks etc can require further work on your behalf. It's not necessarily a negative thing - but it may impact where you want to spend your budget.

Ask Questions

A good estate agent will have all the information you need to know if a property is for you or not - so don't be afraid to ask for what you need. Standard questions should include, 'How old is the boiler?' as the average boiler lifespan is around 10-15 years so the younger the better! 'Is there a chain?' 'Has there been much interest in the property?' 'What's the energy performance certificate rating?'

Neighbourhood

Be sure to leave some time either before or after a house viewing to get to know the neighbourhood. How walkable is it? Where is the nearest coffee shop, post office, supermarket? It's also a great opportunity to learn about traffic, noise, and general tidiness of your immediate surroundings.

Buying a Home?

For expert advice, over 25 years of experience, and a wide range of properties, Butler and Stag is a friendly estate agent, covering popular areas such as East London and West Essex. Browse listings on our website or visit one of our offices.