Buying
What to look for when you view a house
1 min read · Updated
The short answer
Look past the furniture to the things that are expensive to fix: damp, the roof, windows, the boiler and the electrics. Ask why the seller is moving and what's included, and go back a second time at a different time of day.
The expensive things
- Damp: musty smells, stains or fresh paint in odd places, black mould around windows.
- The roof and gutters, from outside: missing tiles, sagging, plants growing in the gutters.
- Windows: condensation between double glazed panes means the seal has gone.
- The boiler: how old it is and when it was last serviced.
- Electrics: an old fuse box or very few sockets can mean rewiring.
Questions for the agent
- Why are the sellers moving, and have they found somewhere?
- How long has it been on the market, and have there been offers?
- What's included, like the white goods, curtains or shed?
- What are the council tax band and the energy bills?
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A guide, not financial or legal advice. Rules and rates change, so check with your lender, broker or solicitor. Where our numbers come from.