PROPERTY VIEWING CHECKLIST ================================================================ Property: ______________________________________________ Date: ______________________ BEFORE YOU ARRIVE ----------------- (Five minutes of preparation changes what you notice inside.) [ ] Walk or drive the street at a different time of day than the viewing [ ] Check what is directly behind and beside the property, not just in front [ ] Note the distance to transport, schools and shops yourself rather than trusting the listing [ ] Look up recent sold prices for the same street or building [ ] Check for planning applications nearby that could change the outlook or access OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY -------------------- [ ] Roof line straight, tiles or covering intact, no visible sagging [ ] Gutters and downpipes clear, no staining down the walls beneath them [ ] Brickwork or render free of large cracks, especially around windows and corners [ ] Window frames sound, double glazing free of misting between panes [ ] Ground slopes away from the building, drains and gullies clear [ ] Boundary lines match what is described, fences and walls in usable condition DAMP, WATER AND VENTILATION --------------------------- (The most expensive problems announce themselves quietly.) [ ] Musty smell on entering, particularly in rooms that have been closed up [ ] Staining or bubbling at skirting level and in ceiling corners [ ] Fresh paint in one patch only, or furniture pushed against a single wall [ ] Black mould around window reveals and in bathroom corners [ ] Extractor fans present and working in kitchen and bathrooms [ ] Water pressure at the highest tap in the property, hot and cold SERVICES AND SYSTEMS -------------------- [ ] Age and type of heating system, and when it was last serviced [ ] Consumer unit or fuse board looks modern, not a rewireable relic [ ] Enough sockets in each room, positioned where furniture would go [ ] Water stopcock located, and you know where it is [ ] Internet connection type actually available at the address [ ] Any solar, battery or heat pump equipment owned outright rather than leased SPACE AND LAYOUT ---------------- [ ] Measure the rooms you care about rather than trusting the floor plan [ ] Check a bed, sofa or dining table you own would actually fit and turn [ ] Storage: where would coats, bikes, luggage and cleaning equipment live [ ] Natural light in the rooms you will use in the daytime [ ] Which direction the main living space and garden face [ ] Ceiling height and any awkward low points on stairs and landings NOISE AND NEIGHBOURS -------------------- [ ] Stand still and stay silent for a full minute in the main bedroom [ ] Traffic, flight paths, railway lines, pubs, schools and collection points nearby [ ] Shared walls, floors and ceilings: what is on the other side of each [ ] Bin storage and collection arrangements, and where they are relative to windows [ ] Parking: allocated, permit, or first-come, and how it looks in the evening QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU LEAVE --------------------------------- [ ] How long has it been on the market, and has the price changed [ ] Why is the seller moving, and how soon do they need to complete [ ] Have any offers been made and fallen through, and why [ ] What work has been done, when, and is there paperwork for it [ ] What are the annual running costs: tax, insurance, service or association charges [ ] What is included in the sale, in writing, item by item ================================================================ NOTE ================================================================ This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Property, tenancy and consumer law differ in every country and often between regions of the same country. Check what is required where the property is located, and take professional advice before signing or serving anything that creates a legal obligation. Template from My Property Pages — https://mypropertypages.com/documents