The viewing: a checklist and the questions that yield something
A viewing often lasts twenty minutes and afterwards you mainly remember the kitchen. With a fixed route and a few good questions you get far more out of it.
In short
- Preferably view twice, at different times of day.
- Ask about things that can be checked (dates, amounts, documents), not about opinions.
- Photos of the meter cupboard, boiler and crawl space are worth more later than photos of the living room.
- Whatever the agent will not confirm verbally, ask again in writing.
Preparation
Request the documents before the viewing rather than after. If you have already read the VvE minutes, you can look on site at exactly what they mentioned, a facade that according to the minutes needs renovating, for example. Also bring: a torch, a spirit level or a marble, and a phone with enough storage for photos.
The round through the house
Outside
- Cracks in the facade, especially diagonal ones at window corners and across several storeys.
- Pointing: weathered, eroded or recently repaired in one spot?
- Gutter, roof covering and chimney, as far as visible.
- Condition of window frames and paintwork; carefully probe suspicious patches of timber with a key.
- Does the ground slope towards the house? Then water reaches the facade.
Inside
- Meter cupboard: consumer unit, residual current device, number of circuits, year.
- Boiler: make, year of manufacture, service sticker.
- Ventilation: mechanical or natural, vents open or taped shut.
- Open the crawl space if you can: water, condensation, smell, insulation.
- Open and close windows and doors, do they stick, and if so all of them or on one side?
- Put a marble on the floor in different rooms.
- Look behind cupboards and in the corners of external walls.
- Turn on a tap and check the water pressure; look under the sink and inside the bathroom unit.
Extra for an apartment
- Communal areas: stairwell, storage, bike shed. Their condition says something about how the association functions.
- Sound: stand still for a minute and listen above, below and next door.
- Check whether there is visible deferred maintenance to the facade, walkway or balconies.
The questions that yield information
Ask for facts, not opinions. "Is the property well maintained?" gets you nothing; these questions do:
- When was the roof last replaced or renovated?
- How old is the boiler and when was it last serviced?
- Have there been any renovations, and were permits issued for them?
- Why is the seller selling, and how long has the property been on the market?
- Have there been any known damp, leak or foundation problems?
- For an apartment: what is the balance of the reserve fund, when was the MJOP drawn up and have any decisions been taken on a one-off levy?
- Are there any easements, such as a right of way?
- Which movable items stay behind (ask for the list of fixtures and fittings)?
If you get a vague answer, put the question again by email. Written answers are more precise, and you still have them later.
Straight afterwards
Write down within ten minutes what struck you, positive and negative. After three viewings properties blur together and what you mainly remember is the atmosphere, not the crack in the rear facade.
Frequently asked questions
How many times should I view a property?
At least twice if you are serious, preferably at different times, during the day for the light, in the evening or at the weekend for the noise and the neighbourhood.
May I look in the crawl space myself?
Always ask first. Most agents are fine with you opening the hatch and looking in with a torch. Climbing in is a different matter and usually a job for the surveyor.
Should I bring a surveyor to the viewing?
For a second viewing of a property you seriously want to bid on it is often money well spent, certainly with an older home. For a first look it is usually not necessary.
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