Which property checklist

You should always have your own independent survey carried out in order to uncover any hidden issues with the house you're buying — take a look at our guide to the types of house survey to find out more. If you're buying property in Scotland , ask the selling agent for the home report, which includes a survey. Spend at least half an hour walking around the general area to see how close the things that matter to you, such as cafes, schools, transport links or local shops, are. Also revisit at rush hour and when the pubs close, and on weekends and weekdays.

Our guide on finding the best places to live has a host of extra tips and an area comparison tool packed with useful info about the local authority you're looking at. It's not always easy, but try to see the house simply as a building that needs inspecting. Don't get too attached early on or your heart might rule your head and cause you to overlook any problems. Our guide on making an offer on a property explains how to decide what to offer. Unlike the seller, the estate agent is legally obliged to tell you if they know of any serious problems with the property.

You can also ask them how long the property's been on the market for and whether anyone's made an offer. For a full list of questions to ask the estate agent, visit our guide to making an offer on a property. If you're considering buying a property off-plan, ie before it's been built, you'll have to make your decision based on viewing a show home.

You'll need to be particularly savvy here, as the property will have been professionally designed and dressed to make it as enticing as possible. Sometimes, an estate agent or seller will hold an open day for potential buyers, rather than arranging ad-hoc viewings. There are pros and cons to this approach, both for buyers and sellers. On the flip side, the shorter time period can mean offers are made and then accepted more quickly, which could be beneficial for everyone involved.

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Compare Mortgages. In this article. Coronavirus COVID home-buying update Downloadable house-viewing checklist Video: things to check when viewing a property Questions to ask when viewing a house or flat. Nine tips for viewing a property Viewing a show home Open days. Coronavirus COVID home-buying update Different parts of the UK have been placed under varying restrictions in recent months, and in some cases this has affected the property market.

Does it have off-road parking? Inside The Building Are there sufficient smoke alarms? Do all light switches work? Is the property big enough for your needs? Is there enough room for storage? Are there any signs of damp or mould? Kitchen Are all cupboards in good condition? Do all of the built-in kitchen appliances such as oven and extractor fan working? Are any other appliances within the kitchen kitchen counters, refrigerator etc included in the sale? Is there any sign of damp or mould around the sink?

Bathroom s Do all taps work? How long does it take for hot water to come through? How strong is the water pressure in the shower? On selling a property do you legally have to disclose our neighbours dog biting our dog. We have reported it to the police as this is what you are legally liable to do. Thank you. First and foremost you should be aware that as part of the conveyancing process you will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires about the property.

You must fill these forms out truthfully and to the best of your knowledge; if it later transpires that you have not been fully truthful you could be sued for compensation. You need to provide information about any past or existing disputes for example complaints relating to noise and any action taken to resolve matters.

The form also asks about anything that could lead to a dispute in the future. I am in the process of purchasing a house only to find out that it has White asbestos in all the ceilings paint coating. What is your opinion on this. Hi Raj, was it a specific asbestos survey?

What is their definition of harming it? If you were to get painters and decorators in in future and they sanded down parts of the ceiling and made repairs I assume the asbestos would be disturbed and become air borne. The HSE website is a mine of information and publishes free downloadable advice sheets on all aspects of removal. Research it will grow from under the house and ruin it.

This was a great idea, helps me look at more things when i am looking at houses, as i had to take my builder with me on the 2nd viewing. Doing a house tour plus inspection is a must before purchasing one.

Glad we could help, Theodore. Please do get in touch if we can help at any point. Angela HomeOwners Alliance. Is it on a flood plain? What is the broadband availability like and what services are available. Does it have Sky Availability? Indeed suggestions are very good and also the comments are very helpful. I would like to add one more thing, specially when you have school going kids. Better check the schools around your area and how far are they.

Very useful advice. Also, please check out the House Inspector app for iOS and Android which provides suggestions on what to look out for when viewing a property and calculates a house score based on your viewing.

In London all you get is 15 minutes to view the property. Who was the intended audience for this article? Major cities are now dealing with the overspill and if open houses continue in the same vein, this will become the national norm.

Great to think some of you still have the luxury of second viewings before spending k. Very helpful tips indeed. While Viewing the property, one should also checkout the neighbourhood. Neighbours play an important role in our life and at times more than family and friends. Are these not things the inspector check for or do the buyers asked these questions when first looking at a house?

Some really great tips and 20 minutes is definitely not enough. Mould is such a big issue, especially because it is not always obvious. If you are viewing a property, you really should be inspecting every inch of it because it is such a big investment after all. Estate agents can be very helpful in this situation but also your gut instinct as you pointed out.

I live in an underpinned house as do a fairly high number of people in my town. Can I afford to buy a home? Should I sell my home before buying a new one? How to buy and sell at the same time The hidden costs of buying and owning a home What is gazumping and how to avoid it Rightmove, Zoopla and the rest: which is best? See more advice guides How to finance your new home How much can I afford? Do I need a mortgage broker? Gifted deposits explained What type of mortgage should I get?

How long does it take to get a mortgage? Mortgage agreement in principle Remortgaging Mortgages for the over 50s See more advice guides Buying a new build home Buying a new build home - problems and top tips How to choose the best new home builder New build homes and getting a mortgage New build conveyancing process explained How to fix problems in your new build home Do I need a snagging list for my new build home?