So, you’re looking to buy a house. You’ve spent hours scouring through property sites and talking with estate agents, and you’ve finally found some properties you like the look of. Now that you have that shortlist, you get to move onto what, in our opinion, is the most exciting part of buying a new home – the viewings. A property viewing is your chance to actually walk around a property, take a good look at it in detail, and decide if it’s a good fit for you in person and not just on paper. But there are some key things you should be looking for when viewing a house, and we’ve pulled together the most important ones in a handy house-viewing checklist for you.
Do a Drive by
If you’ve got a shortlist of houses, the first thing we suggest is going to do a drive by of each one. Often this can be enough to help you figure out if this is the right house for you, and if the neighbourhood will be a good fit. Driving around the property and the neighbourhood gives you a good feel for the area, access routes and nearby streets. It also allows you to get an idea of things like noise and traffic levels, how close you would be to school routes, and all sorts of other useful insights you might not otherwise get until you move in. Trying driving around at different times of the day too; it’s surprising what a difference it can make. Of course, this shouldn’t stop you viewing the inside of the property as well, but it gives you some context when it comes to decision time.
Make a List
Before you go into any viewing, make a list of everything that’s important to you. Everyone has different things they look for in a property, so this isn’t something your estate agent can help you with. Instead, think about the things you need in your daily life. Is an open living space important? Do you need a separate dining room to use as an office? Are you a keen cook, and need a nice big kitchen? Is it more important that you’re in easy distance of a school? Add onto this list any questions you want to ask the estate agent as you go around. Once you’re inside a house it’s very easy for these things to slip your mind, so having a checklist means you can be sure each house meets your needs, and refer back to it later.
Ask About Running Costs
As well as the price for actually buying the house, you should also find out as much you can about how much it costs to run. This will help you decide if the property is truly within your budget. Ask about things like council tax bands, roughly how much water bills, gas and electricity bills are, and ask to see the EPC certificate. This will tell you how energy efficient the house is.
Check for Structural Issues
While you will get a structural survey done later down the line to find any issues, there are some things you can look out for on first viewing that could save you some time if there are problems. The main thing you want to look for are big cracks inside and out. Spots to check in include where extensions join the main structure, in end-of-terrace walls and bay windows, all of which can start to fall or bow away from the house over the years. The idea of keeping an eye out for these things now is to ask the owners or estate agents about them, and to make a note of things you want your surveyor to investigate later. But remember that some hairline cracks are normal in any house, so you shouldn’t worry too much!
Of course, there are many other things to look for when you’re buying a house – it’s one of the reasons we recommend viewing a property more than once before you make your decision. One viewing should be more about your heart and whether you see the property as a home, and the other should be more logical, with a checklist of things to look out for. And if you’re ever not sure what you should be looking for, you can always ask. At Northwood, we want to make sure you find your ideal home, and our advisors are on hand to help you achieve that. If you have any questions about viewing a property, or you just want to find out more, just get in touch with the team today.
