House viewing checklist for first-time buyers

0 of 30 ticked

Outside

Look up at the roof: missing tiles, sagging, mossRoofs are the dearest fix.
Gutters and downpipes: cracked, leaking or stained walls below themLeaks here cause damp inside.
Cracks in the walls, especially wide ones or ones that step along the bricksFine cracks are normal. Wide or stepped ones need a surveyor.
Windows: double glazed, frames sound, no misting between the panes
Garden and boundaries: who owns which fence, is it overlooked, does it drain
Parking: on the street, permit, a space? Try it at the time you'd come home

Sniff for damp and look for dark patches, peeling paper, bubbling paintCheck behind furniture and under the sink too.
Boiler: how old, when it was last serviced, any paperworkA new boiler is around £3,000.
Run the taps and flush the loo. Does the hot water come quickly, is the pressure OK
Fuse box: modern with switches, or old with fuse wireOld wiring can mean a full rewire.
Check your phone signal in every room, and ask about broadband speed
Storage: cupboards, loft, somewhere for a bike or a pram
Stand still and listen. Traffic, neighbours, a pub, a school
Which way do the main rooms face, and when does the sun get in
Would your bed, sofa and table fit? Measure if you're not sure

Why are they selling, and how long has it been on the market
Have there been any offers, and is the seller in a chain
What's included: curtains, white goods, the shed
Council tax band and roughly what the bills areOur estimates are a guide. The agent can tell you the real figures.
The EPC rating, and whether there's a copy
Has any work been done, and was it signed off (building regulations, FENSA for windows)
Freehold or leasehold? If leasehold: years left, ground rent, service charge, who manages itUnder 100 years left can trouble lenders.
Any history of flooding, subsidence or an insurance claim

Take photos and a quick video while it's fresh, if the agent lets you
If you're keen, ask for a second viewing before you offer
Run it through Costs on First Key with the real council tax band and service charge