Are you hoping to find a new home this summer? When looking at properties can feel like an adventure, home-buyers can be forgiven for forgetting the more practical details. We’ve put together a checklist so that, should a dreamy place come up for sale, you can run through the various points to consider.
And remember: take your time to inspect the property and ask any questions, big or small. While you might have an initial gut feel for a new home, it’s important to gather information on the building as well as the location. Ideally, you’ll already have a set of priorities you can share with your estate agent, helping you to judge which of the following things matter the most to you and your family.
The interior
General:
- What’s the storage space like considering your current belongings and plans?
- Are there working fire alarms and burglar alarms?
- Are there locks and keys for all the windows and doors?
- If you intend to work from home, is there a suitable space or one you could adapt?
- Are the curtains, blinds, and rugs included in the sale?
- Can you see any signs of damp or mould?
- How’s the mobile phone coverage? The broadband speed?
- What council tax band is the property in?
- What’s the EPC (energy performance certificate) rating?
The living room and downstairs:
- Is there enough natural light in the main rooms?
- If there’s a fireplace, is it functioning and in good condition?
- Could your furniture fit into the rooms?
- How are the carpets looking?
- Are there enough electrical sockets in the right places?
The bedrooms:
- Could your beds and other furniture fit in the rooms?
- Is there a built-in wardrobe or space for a freestanding one?
- How about a chest of drawers?
- Can you decide who would get each bedroom?
The bathrooms:
- How’s the water pressure?
- Does the extractor fan work?
- Does the toilet flush as it should?
- Is there a shaver socket?
- What do you think of the shower or the bath?
- Are the grouting and sealant in decent condition?
- Does the hot water come through quickly enough?
The exterior
- Are the window frames well-maintained? Are the windows double-glazed?
- If the wall is rendered, how does it look? How about the brickwork? Are there any cracks?
- As for the roof, can you see any loose or damaged tiles?
- Are the drains and gutters leaking?
- If there’s a chimney, is it straight?
- What’s the parking like? Is there a garage? Do you need a permit to park on the road?
- If you drive electric, is there a charger or room for one?
The garden and outdoor space
- Are you clear on the property’s boundaries?
- What’s the condition of any fences, gates, walls or railings?
- What direction does the garden face and at what time of day does it get the sun?
- Are there any trees close to the house that could cause problems or block out light?
- Is the garden overlooked? If so, how do you feel about this?
- Might the garden be hard to maintain?
- Are there signs of Japanese knotweed or uncontrolled bamboo?
- Is the garden safe for children and pets? For example, consider any ponds and swimming pools.
The location
- How are the noise levels during different times of the day? If in a tourist spot, is it likely to be noisier during the summer or other seasons?
- What’s the traffic like? Again, consider different times of year.
- What’s your impression of the neighbours?
- Is it in a conservation area?
- Are there any planned housing developments? Look on the local council website.
- What are the local amenities like? The road connections?
- Is there a risk of flooding? Has the property flooded before?
- What are the schools like? Have you researched the catchment areas?
