The Ultimate House Viewing Checklist | 101+ Questions To Find Your Dream Home

Have a house viewing coming up?  This is the ultimate house viewing checklist with 101+ questions to help you find your dream home. 

Asking detailed questions when house viewing is a must. It's very easy to get distracted looking at all the exciting things in a new house, but you should always come prepared with a list of questions to ask. 

You should ask questions in the following areas: 
 
Structure of the property
General House Issues
Safety questions
Inside of the house 
Household Utilities
Outside of the house
Surrounding Area
Certificates to ask for

We'll also cover why you need to ask these questions and when exactly you should ask them. If you aren't familiar with some the terms used, don't worry! We have a list of definitions at the end of this post. 

If you'd like to download our printable version with bonus material and additional checklists (sneak peek below!), you can visit our Etsy store.

This post is all about the ultimate house viewing checklist with 101+ questions to help you find your dream home. 

Why should you ask these house viewing questions?

The answers to these questions will help you:

• Negotiate with the seller. You will get a better sense of what issues there are that can justify reducing the asking price. Usually, most things are open to negotiate at the early stages. For example, if the seller is not leaving a particular appliance you like, you can ask whether this is possible and see if you can reach an agreement.
  
  
• Understand what you will need to do/replace once you have moved into the property. You can form a budget of how much this is likely to cost you and consider whether this is something you really want to commit to with regard to time, money and any disruption involved. The more questions you ask the less likely you are to incur an unexpected expense.
  
  
• Avoid having to withdraw an offer. Many people will view a property, make an offer, and find out later something they don't like. You may then have to withdraw the offer or worse! If you've already moved in, you'll be stuck with fixing the issue, which can be a massive headache. 

When is best to ask these house viewing questions?

Whether you ask these questions on your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd viewing of the property is up to you. Ideally, you should ask them before making an offer, as the answers can significantly influence whether you purchase the property and the amount you pay.

Remember, never make any assumptions about anything in the property. Always ask the question ! Let's get to it...

 House Viewing: Structure of the Property

Structure

1. What year was the property built?
2. Is the construction of the walls solid, cavity or stud? 
3. Are the internal floors concrete or suspended wood floors?
4. Is the ground floor concrete or wood?
5. Are all the floors level or on a slope?

Roof, Windows, Doors

6. How old is the roof?
7. Are the roof tiles slate, concrete, clay, or cement?
8. What type and date of insulation is in the house? Is the roof insulated?
9. How old are the windows? Is there any window guarantee?
10. Do the doors or windows need changing?
11. Is there any building guarantee?

Extensions

12. Have there been any refurbishments/extensions/new build sections to the house?
13. If so, when was this done?
14. Was building control involved and is there a certificate?
15. Was a structural engineer and architect involved?
16. Have there been any planning applications denied?

 House Viewing: General Issues to check

General Issues

17. Is the property freehold or leasehold? 
18. How long have you lived here?
19. How long has the house been on the market?
20. Any problems with the house? Has house insurance ever been declined?
21. Any convenance(s) on the property? 

Flooding and pests

22. Any history of flooding?
23. Does the house have damp issues? (check ceilings for damp)
24. Any damp proof course put in and which part of the house?
25. When was this done and is it still within warranty?
26. Any pests (birds, squirrels, wasp nests, mice)?

Disturbance

27. Any issues or disputes with the neighbours?
28. Are the neighbours planning on doing any building work soon?
29. Any loud noises from venues, traffic (train, plane, cars), dogs?
30. Any overpowering smells from nearby restaurants?

House Viewing: Safety Questions

Locks and alarms

Internal alarms

House Viewing: Inside the House

Attic

Appliances

Kitchen

48. Check how many cupboards in the kitchen
49. Check if there is enough space to fit a family-sized fridge/freezer
50. Is there enough space for a dining table?
51. Is there a water softener? If so, how old is it?
52. How many sockets are there? 

Furnishings

53. Are the curtains being left? How old are they?
54. Are the carpets being left? How old are they?
55. Are the light fittings being left?
56. How many wardrobes are in the bedroom? Are they staying?
57. Will all of your existing furniture fit?

House Viewing: Household Utilities 

Signal

58. How good is the Wifi signal throughout the house?
59. Is the TV aerial in the attic or on the roof?
60. Where are the TV aerial sockets and how many are there?
61. Where are the telephone sockets and how many are there?

Heating

62. What type of boiler is it (i.e. pressurised/combi boiler)?
63. How old is the boiler?
64. Where is the timer for hot water and heating?
65. How many thermostats are in the house?
66. Where is the gas meter and stop valve?
67. What is the size of the gas meter?

Electrics

68. How many years ago was the electrical re-wiring done?
69. Where are the electric fuse boxes and the electric meter?
70. Is the electric meter a single phase or 3-phase meter?
71. Where is the electric turn off point?
72. How much are all the utility bills roughly?

Plumbing

House Viewing: Outside the House

Garage

84. Will your car fit in the garage or the parking space?
85. How many power points in the garage?
86. Is there a water tap in the garage?
87. Is there adequate lighting?
88. Is there enough storage space in the garage or throughout the house?

Garage door

89. How old and what type of garage door?
90. Who services the garage door and how often?
91. Is there any insulation in the garage? Is it damp?
92. Is there a fixed switch mounted on the wall to open/close the door?
93. Are there any garage fobs?

Gates

94. Do electronic gates meet GATESAFE safety standards?
95. How old are they and when were they last serviced?
96. Any gate fobs?

Outside utilities

97. Is there an external gas point?
98. Are there any outside electric sockets?
99. Is there an outside water tap?
100. Any lighting outside? How many and are they working?
101. Is there a shed that's being left and how old is it?
102. Is there a lock for the shed?

Garden

103. Who owns which borders/fences/walls?
104. Is there any Japanese Knot Weed?
105. Do the gutters get blocked because of leaves?
106. What type of soil is in the garden-is it chalk or clay?

Trees

107. Are there any tree preservation orders?
108. Any problems with the roots of trees under the house?
109. Any dangerous overhanging trees into the road or vice versa?
110. How do the neighbours react if their trees need to be trimmed?

House Viewing: Surrounding Area

Local area

111. Are there hospitals nearby?
112. How many GPs nearby?
113. Is there a local vet for your pet?
114. Is the property near pylons/mobile masts?

Transport Links

115. How far from the station? Are there good transport links in the area?
116. How far to the airport?
117. Are you near main roads?
118. Are there good schools and nurseries nearby?
119. How far from the nearest university?

Services

120. Where is the nearest newsagents? 
121. Where is the nearest big supermarket? 
122. Good local gym?
123. Nearest church?
124. Friendly community in the area?
125. Any local community schemes?

House Viewing: Certificates to ask for 

When buying a home

126. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
127. Electrical safety certificate 
128. Gas safety certificate 
129. Building control certificate
130. National House Building Council (NHBC) certificate (if applicable)
131. Planning application approval certificate 
132. New roof certificate and guarantee (if new one has been installed)
133. Replacement window certificate(s)
134. Damp proof course certificate(s)
135. Any household appliance certificate(s)? Any record of servicing of appliances?

When renting a home

136. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
137. Electric safety certificate 
138. Gas safety certificate 
139. Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

House Viewing Definitions

A

• Asbestos: A dangerous mineral that can cause health complications. It can be found in houses built before 2000

B

• Boarded attic: Loft boards (wood) are used to make the attic more sturdy, which can make it suitable to use (i.e. for storage) and can improve insulation
  
  
• Blue poly pipe: flexible polyethylene (plastic) pipe that is used instead of lead pipes
  
  
• Building guarantee: If anything goes wrong with the structure of the property (usually over a period of 10 years), it will be covered by the guarantee from NHBC (National House Building Council)

C

• Carbon monoxide: a toxic gas found in homes with fuel burning appliances
  
  
• Cavity wall: consists of 2 walls with a gap in between them, which leads to better insulation than solid walls
  
  
• CERTASS: an accredited certification body (in the UK) for windows and doors, which shows they comply with building regulations. An alternative certification body is FENSA (The Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme)
  
  
• Combi boiler: A boiler that can heat water from the mains directly in the boiler with no need for a storage tank 
  
  
• Convenances: terms and conditions set by the land owner which places limitations on what you can and cannot do with the property

D

• Damp proof course: barrier installed in between walls to reduce damp
  
  
• Deposit: an initial sum of money you pay to secure the property before you sign the contract

E

• Electric cut-off switch: switch that stops the electricity from the mains
  
  
• Electric meter: measures the amount of electricity used and displays an electric reading, which shows the amount
  
  
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): provides a rating on how energy efficient the property is. Rating A- most efficient. Rating G-least efficient

F

• Freehold property: You own the property entirely, including its land. This differs from a leasehold property where you do not own the land (you just own the property)

G

• Gas meter: measures the amount of gas used and displays a gas reading, which shows the amount
  
  
• Gas stop valve: A tap which turns off all gas from the mains

J

• Japanese Knot Weed: a Japanese plant that is very fast-growing, which can cause damage to your property if it keeps on spreading

M

• Man hole: an opening in the ground that provides access to the pipes

P

• Planning application: An application you submit to the local authority when you want to undertake external building work to extend the existing footprint of your property
  
  
• Pressurised central heating system: A boiler is used alongside a hot water cylinder (or tank) to heat water from the mains and store it in the tank ready for use

S

• Single phase electric meter: is found in most domestic homes and refers to the amount of electricity that can be supplied (230 volts) in the property
  
  
• Solid walls: a brick wall with no gap in-between them
  
  
• Studs wall: thin wall made out of wood, which tends to be cheaper than solid walls
  
  
• Subsidence: where the ground has started sinking in

T

• Tenancy Deposit Scheme certificate: this confirms your deposit is secured by the scheme. Both the tenant and landlord are bound by the rules governing the deposit for the tenancy
  
  
• Thermostats: a device that controls the temperature in your house
  
  
• Three phase electric meter: the electricity supplied is around 400 volts, which is higher than a single phase meter
  
  
• Tree preservation order (TPO): A local authority may have given a TPO to protect certain trees. It is illegal to chop down or damage these trees

W

• Water meter: measures the amount of water used, which is displayed as a 'water reading'
  
  
• Water softener: a white box (usually in the kitchen) that softens hard water coming in from the mains. Hard water causes a buildup of limescale inside pipes and appliances
  
  
• Water stop valve: A tap which turns off all water from the mains 

This post was all about the house viewing questions you should ask to help you find your dream home. 

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