Questions to ask when viewing a house
A viewing is short and the agent is there to sell. Go in with questions, and check what you can from the records before you go, so you know what to look for.
Free to start with a postcode. No account needed. See an example report.
What to ask, in order
About the sale
Why is the seller moving? Is there a chain, and how long is it? How long has the home been on the market, and have there been offers? Has the price changed?
About the building
How old are the roof, the boiler and the windows? What has been extended or converted, and when? Is there planning permission and building regulations approval for it?
About running costs
What’s the council tax band? What are the energy bills? For a flat: what are the service charge, ground rent and years left on the lease?
About the area
Has the home or the street flooded? Are there plans for building nearby? What’s parking like, and how noisy is it at rush hour or at night?
Check the answers
Our report sets the official records beside what you’re told: flood maps, planning applications, energy certificates and past sales. Each finding comes with a question to ask.
What we check
- Planning applications nearby, flood zone, recent sales, crime and schoolsFree area check
- Extensions with no planning record, and energy certificate historyFull report
- A one-page brief of questions to take to the viewingFull report
Coverage: England, Scotland and Wales.
Sources: HM Land Registry; Energy Performance of Buildings Register; Council planning registers; Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales. All data sources
Why the right questions matter
The seller’s answers on the property information form are given later, through solicitors. Asking at the viewing tells you early whether there’s something to look into.
Records don’t lie or forget. Checking them before a viewing means you know which answers to listen for.
Questions to ask the seller, your solicitor or surveyor
- What’s included in the sale: carpets, curtains, appliances?
- Have there been any disputes with neighbours?
- Can I come back at a different time of day?
The full report ties questions like these to what it finds at the house.
Common questions
What should I look for at a viewing?
Damp patches and mould, cracks around doors and windows, the age of the boiler and windows, water pressure, phone signal, and the street at different times.
Can the agent refuse to answer?
They can say they don’t know, but in the UK agents must not mislead buyers or leave out information you’d need to decide. Ask them to check with the seller.
Should I view more than once?
It’s worth it before you offer: once to see the home, and again at a different time of day to see the street and listen for noise.
Official records, not advice. We never score properties or tell you whether to buy. Check a postcode