# What to look for when you view a house

> 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.

Buying · Published 2026-10-04 · Updated 2026-10-04 · https://firstkey.uk/articles/what-to-look-for-at-a-viewing

## 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?

[Take the viewing checklist](https://firstkey.uk/guide/viewing-checklist): Tick things off on your phone as you go round.

**Go back a second time.** Visit at a different time of day, and walk the street at rush hour or on a Friday night. Try the commute too: First Key can show how far each home is from where you work.

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