6 min read
Be prepared for viewing a property by reading our house viewing tips and checklist. Know what questions to ask and red flags to look out for.
SEO Specialist and Senior Copywriter
Published March 11th 2024
Updated on March 10th 2025
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House viewing is probably the most exciting part of the homebuying process. With every property you visit, there’s a chance this could be ‘the one’.
To make the most of your viewings, it’s essential to be prepared; know what questions to ask and what red flags to look out for. This ensures that if you want to make an offer, you have all the necessary information at hand.
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First-time buyer? Find more tips in our detailed first-time buyers guide.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the viewing is one of the earliest opportunities to spot any problems, before getting deeper into the buying process. If you go on to buying the house, the building survey, before contract exchange, should pick up any major issues. However you could save yourself time, money and heartache, by looking out for these key issues before you make an offer.
Keep an eye out for:
Damp, anywhere in the building. You can spot it on walls, floors or ceilings that may look a different colour or texture, and feel cold or wet. Jo Behari, DIY expert, adds “Never ignore signs of damp, as there could be a huge problem lying underneath“
Plumbing issues. Flush toilets to check the drainage, look out for leaks below the sinks and radiators, turn on the taps to check pressure and check the boiler’s service history.
Dry rot can cause major damage to your home, leading to significant structural issues. Decaying timber, deep cracks in the timber grain and a damp and musty smell are common signs.
Japanese knotweed in the garden or neighbouring properties can cause damage to building structures and weaken housing foundations. Find out more on buying or selling a house with Japanese knotweed.
Water damage. Watch out for stains, spots and mould that could indicate a leak.
Condensation. The warning signs are water collecting on the inside of windows, black mould on the walls, wallpaper peeling and a strong musty smell.
Room size and storage. Ensure all rooms will meet your needs and factor in space for your furniture.
Insulation. Are the windows double glazed? Check windows to spot signs of poor insulation that might cause issues in keeping the house warm and increasing energy consumption.
Noise. Note whether you can hear the neighbours chatting next door or the road traffic during the viewing.
DIY fails. When DIY is done wrong, it can be costly to rectify. Check for obvious DIY jobs that have been completed by the owner instead of a professional Jo adds, “[if a job] is done badly, you’re looking at thousands of pounds worth of damage to repair.“
Although these red flags can be alarming, they don’t mean that you shouldn’t make an offer. However, the sooner you can uncover potential issues the better, as you can go into the purchase without any nasty or expensive surprises further down the line.
In the early stages of the buying process, it’s essential to determine how much you can afford to borrow. Getting a mortgage, or agreement in principle will provide a good indication of what a bank will lend you and will ensure you’re looking at houses within your price range.
In some locations, you need a mortgage in principle for an estate agent to let you physically view a property, as having an agreement in principle shows sellers that you’re a serious and well-prepared buyer.
Don’t know where to start? Find out more about the mortgage process.
Gather as much information as you can, working through the list of questions you prepared above. You can also find additional useful questions for property viewings here.
Take someone with you. Get a second opinion from a trusted friend or family member. There’s a chance they’ll spot things you don’t.
July 23rd 2024-4 min read
There are many number of questions you may wish to ask at a property viewing, but here’s our list of the ten most important.
What questions should you ask?Get clued up and find a home that ticks all your boxes with our top house viewing tips:
Especially if you're relocating, start off with some desk-based research. See if there are any guides about living in the area, including schools, transports and local amenities.
Explore our guide on the best places to live in the UK or find more information on locations around the UK.
Drive past the property before your viewing to get a feel for the area. You could even park up and familiarise yourself with the neighbourhood. Try to do this on different days and times to get a feel for day-to-day life.
Don't rush your viewing, despite only being allocated a short slot. If you’re serious about the property, take as much time as you need to look around.
If you didn’t manage to find out everything on your first visit and you’d like to spend more time in the house, remember that you can always arrange a second viewing. This is quite common before making an offer on a property.
How should you act when viewing a house? You want to seem keen, but not overly so. You don’t want to indicate that you’re so in love with the home that you’ll do anything possible to get it, as the owner might feel they can push you for a higher offer.
The key is to find the right balance by not appearing too uninterested. A seller is more likely to favour and trust a potential buyer who seems engaged and eager, particularly when there are more offers on the table.
Being friendly and confident, as well as showing you’re a serious, reliable buyer can help you make a good first impression. You can also build a rapport with the seller or estate agent by arriving on time for the viewing, and being positive and polite. If you like the property, show you’re eager to start moving quickly to increase your chances of having an offer accepted.
Before making an offer, make sure you feel confident that the property is right for you and anyone else who will live there.
If you’re seriously considering making an offer, arrange a second viewing. Take some time to digest all the information and go back for another look in a few days’ time. Visit the property at a different time of day so you can see it from a different light and perspective. Inspect all rooms again to make sure you didn’t miss any potential issues and ask any questions you didn’t have the chance to the first time.
If you’re sure this is the place for you, it’s time to make an offer. Get in touch with the estate agent and tell them the price you're willing to pay, based on your research and what you've seen. Don't hesitate to mention any specific conditions or things you'd like included. Being friendly and straightforward can improve your chances of securing the property and moving a step closer to your new home.
Disclaimer: The article above is only a rough guide to give you some general advice of what is involved during a property viewing.
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