Home Viewing Checklist

It’s easy to feel under pressure when viewing a home for sale. You need to use the time wisely, try to not let your heart rule your head and think rationally. After all, buying a home is a big decision not to mention investment. Having a home viewing checklist can be really helpful to ensure you take note of everything important. So how should you approach a viewing and what if you spot things that could be a problem?

In the majority of cases, you will be accompanied by a sales agent when you view a property. So, use them as your first port of call if there’s anything you want to know or understand better.

Let’s start with what you can do before you even set foot in the house you’re viewing.

Preparation: making the most of a viewing

• Affordability: The first thing on your home viewing checklist is ensuring you only view homes you can afford. Calculate the deposit and the monthly payments on a mortgage if you require one. If you arrange a ‘mortgage in principle’ you can be more confident of your budget.
• What’s vital to you? Make a list of your wants and needs. What you want from your new home is often very different from what you need. For example, do you need to be near a school or transport to commute to work? Or do you work from home and therefore broadband speed is more essential to you. Draw up your list and this will help you shortlist properties.
• What’s your future plan? If this is a home for the long term, which you might want to extend as your family changes? Or is this likely to be your base for a few years until you make your next move up, or down, to a property of a different size?
• Measure up: If you have larger pieces of furniture that will be moving with you then measure it to ensure any property, you’re considering can accommodate it.

Viewing a property

Home viewing checklist: what to look for inside

• Damp and mould: Check ceilings, corners and skirting boards for evidence, or signs that areas may have been repainted to cover up water damage problems.
• Structural issues: Look out for cracks and bulging of walls. If you can fit a 10p piece into a crack (around 3mm) it could be a sign of subsidence.
• Water pressure: If you can run a tap or two – do they work and does the water pressure feel strong enough?
• Energy efficiency: The property will have an Energy Performance Certificate (rating A is best, G is worst) but also check the conditions of windows, door frames, and glazing. Are the seals good or do they let in draughts?
• Lights and power sockets: Try and take note of how many there are and their location.
• Flat with shared entrances: Be alert to the condition of communal areas, are they cluttered. Also listen out for noise from neighbouring properties.

If you spot anything of concern, be sure to discuss it with the sales agent and find out what, if anything is being done about them.

What to look for outside

• Structural issues: Does the brickwork, rendering and pointing look in good condition? Are there any bulging walls or cracks that could indicate structural issues?
• Roof: Walk to where you can view any missing roof tiles or broken guttering and look for damp areas on the brickwork which may indicate a leak.
• Windows: Rotting frames and badly broken sills will compromise energy efficiency and should raise a red flag for future expense.
• Privacy: Is the property or its garden overlooked by nearby homes?
• Decoration: If the house generally looks poorly kept factor in likely redecoration costs.

Again, check with the agent if you have any concerns. For example, a garden that needs cleaning up may be a sign that the seller is older and less able to manage it – and is not an indication of a more significant issue.

Questions to ask at a viewing

On a viewing the agent is your friend, not your enemy. Although they work for the seller (homeowner), they have a vested interest in ensuring your questions are answered – so don’t hold back.

A lot of material information will be available as part of the property details, so check for the rating of the Energy Performance Certificate, whether the property is leasehold or freehold, its council tax band, and usually details of room sizes as well.

The other key questions to ask at a viewing are:

• Heating: Check how old the boiler is, its warranty and service history.
• Fireplaces and wood burners: When were they last installed, last used, chimney swept?
• Rewiring and fuse box: Again, when were these last renewed and/or checked?
• Storage: Are there non-obvious nooks and crannies or extra space?
• Covenants: If a property is a listed building or in a conservation are there may be restrictive covenants meaning extensions and changes may be more difficult.
• Garden: Which way does it face and when does it get the sun?
• Parking: Is there parking? Is it an residents’ permit system?
• Boundaries: Are they all entirely clear to understand?
• Appliances: What items are being left and what are moving with the seller?
• Neighbours: Are there any disputes or local arrangements between neighbours?
• Flats: Are there any service or shared charges not listed on the property details?

A lot of this should be provided to you as part of the material information required before a property is listed or sale.

Second-time viewings

It’s important to view a property more than once so be sure to return for second or subsequent viewing at a different time of day. If the market is very ‘hot’, you may have to make a quick decision about whether to make an offer on a property, so don’t hesitate to ask for another visit if you need it.

Last Updated: March 25th, 2025