The Ultimate Property Viewing Checklist: What Buyers, Tenants & Investors Should Look For

The Ultimate Property Viewing Checklist: What Buyers, Tenants & Investors Should Look For

Viewings are an integral part of the home moving or investment journey. Such a small fraction of people buy or rent ‘blind’. Even then, many of them use a service like Viewber, sending someone to ‘view on their behalf’.

The majority of us like to get a feel for a property and the area it’s in by turning up in person. On paper it’s a straightforward exercise: step inside, take a very thorough look around and make prudent observations. You might even poke your nose into dark corners, open a few cupboard doors and lift up a corner of the carpet. Sound about right?

Whether you’re an agent on a valuation or accompanying a potential buyer, a landlord sussing out your next investment or a purchaser being met at a property by a Viewber, taking an impartial, objective view can actually be more difficult than it sounds.

Prospective purchasers and tenants can become over emotional or easily distracted, giddy with the thought they have found ‘the one’. Or they may get star struck by a trendy interior design that hides a multitude of structural sins.

Viewing a property is also a sensory experience: sight, sound, smell and touch (but not hopefully taste!). Crucial aspects can be overlooked if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Too much furniture and clutter can be a distraction. No furniture at all can feel a bit discombobulating and throw you off.

Plus, there are some lesser spoken about checks worth undertaking while you’re in the property. Anyone on a viewing should approach the visit like conducting an interview: prepare a list of questions before meeting in person and making a decision.

We’ve divided our list of essential viewing checks into sense-based groups. Familiarise yourself with the points before you head to a viewing, or print the list and take it with you.

Sight: look for

• Large cracks to external walls, internal walls and chimney stacks
• Doors that don’t sit squarely in their frames
• Missing or cracked roof tiles
• Floors and windowsills that slope acutely
• Excessive amounts of moss on external walls, especially around drainpipes
• Condensation, damp and mould patches – see NHS damp and mould advice
• Wallpaper and paint that’s bubbling/peeling
• Water damage or brown stains on ceilings
• Signs of rot or woodworm, such as crumbling wood or tiny holes
• Loose or hazardous wiring
• Scorch marks on plug sockets, lights switches and fuse boards
• Plant roots/shoots breaking through masonry and patios
• White salt deposits/efflorescence staining brickwork
• Rooms that look different to the floorplan
• Poor mobile phone reception/lack of 5G

Sound

• Stand in the garden for at least 15 minutes: are there regular aeroplanes overhead or trains rumbling close by?
• Will noise from schools, roads or pubs present a problem?
• Is there banging when the central heating system fires up or taps turned on?
• Do the stairs or floorboards creak?

Smell

• A gas or sulphur odour: could indicate a sewer or drain issue, not just a gas leak – read HSE gas safety advice
• A damp, musky smell: there may be poor ventilation, mould spores or hidden water damage
• A rotten, decaying smell: may suggest something is trapped, such as a bird in the chimney
• An overpowering smell of air freshener or synthetic fragrance: may suggest the owner is trying to cover up a suspicious odour

Touch

• A very cold internal wall: could indicate poor or missing insulation or single-skin construction
• A wall that’s damp to the touch: may be a sign of penetrating or rising damp
• Panes of glass and windowsills that are wet: may indicate poor ventilation
• Cold spots on radiators when the heating is on: may indicate a system that needs servicing or replacing
• Internal doors that don’t close properly in their frames: could indicate a foundation/subsidence issue
• Hot taps that run cold: may suggest an issue with the boiler
• Low water pressure: could mean there’s a leak somewhere in the system
• Draughts: may indicate poorly fitted or old windows and doors

What happens after a viewing?

The UK’s housing stock is made up of all types of property: old, new, badly built, poorly remodelled, listed and unconventional. As such, there is no such thing as the ‘perfect property’. Viewings offer the first indication of what grumbles and glitches may need further investigation.

Any immediate issues should be raised with the selling agent. If it’s something that can’t be resolved between the agent and the seller or landlord, it may be possible to send in a specialist to quantify any issues and give an estimated cost to fix them. There’s also the possibility of requesting a second viewing, during which a more laser focus can be applied.

If an offer is made, buyers will then be guided by their solicitor and a surveyor. Together, they will get to the bottom of anything serious or that may hinder the sale, as well as complete searches and confirm any restrictive covenants or clauses. Learn more about surveys at RICS Home Surveys Explained and the home buying process via GOV.UK home buying guidance.

Tenants are protected by a raft of lettings legislation, including the new Renters’ Rights Act. There are minimum standards landlords must comply with, regarding gas and electrical safety, hazards, living conditions and repairs. If, after a viewing, there are concerns about the state of the property offered, these should be raised with the letting agent. More tenant advice can be found at Shelter England renting advice and GOV.UK renting out property guide.

Ask the viewings expert for help

Accompanied viewings have been the backbone of our business at Viewber since we launched in 2016. Having just completed our 1 millionth property appointment, we know a thing or two about inspecting properties, accompanying clients and reporting back on condition.

Please get in touch if you would like to outsource any property viewings, visits or inspections to our trusted network.