11 Questions To Ask When Viewing A House

Viewing a property isn’t just about looking, it’s a chance to learn as much as possible about your potential home. But many of us simply don’t know what to ask. To help with your hunt, here are the 11 best questions to ask during a viewing.

Questions To Ask the Estate Agent

1 – How long has it been on the market?

If it isn’t selling, there may be a reason. Or if it’s been on the market some time, the sellers might be open to a cheeky offer.

2 – What’s included?

Are all the fitted appliances staying or will you be left with empty spaces? Are they removing that half demolished shed or leaving it behind? Ask now to prevent issues after the sale.

3 – When…

Was the boiler last serviced? The chimney swept? The windows replaced? Questions about general maintenance will give you an indication of how well the property has been cared for and what immediate problems/bills you might face.

4 – Why are the current owners selling?

Are there any red flags you should be aware of?

5 – Which boundaries will you be responsible for?

Is that falling down fence between you and next door something you’ll need to fix? Or worse, does it belong to the neighbour who isn’t bothered and isn’t going to fix it.

6 – Have the sellers found a new property?

This will give you an idea of how long the chain is and how fast/slow the sale could take to complete.

7 – How fast is the internet?

If you the estate agent doesn’t know and you need to work from home, you can check internet speeds at ofcom.org and simply enter the postcode into their ‘broadband checker’.

8 – How old?

How old is the property, is it listed or in a conservation area? This could affect any future changes you want to make.

Questions To Ask Yourself

9 – Will this house grow with us?

How will it feel when small (messy) toddlers become big (messier) teenagers? Or, will a house for your family of 3 still be big enough if you become a family of 4? Could this house adapt to suit your future needs?

10 – Can I add value?

If this isn’t your forever home but a step on your property ladder, consider where/how you can make changes to increase the value when you come to sell.

11 – How much is it really worth?

The asking price might not reflect the true value. You can view what other house in the street have sold for or how much the property was worth last time it sold; https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices

Get more house hunting tips.