75 Things to Look Out for When Buying a House

Looking at houses can be a very emotional time, which makes it extremely easy to miss very important things about the house you’re viewing. To give you the best shot at picking the house of your dreams here’s a checklist of everything you should be looking for:

[Image: Tim Green under CC 2.0

1. Can you afford it?
2. Is there parking?
3. What’s the curb appeal?
4. Is there any obvious damage to the outside of the building?
5. Can you see any cracks in the exterior walls?
6. Are there vines growing up the walls – this can cause damage.
7. What is the condition of the roof?
8. Are there solar panels? If yes, are they owned or rented?
9. Where are the nearest shops?
10. Where’s the nearest school?
11. Is there good transport links?
12. How busy are nearby roads?
13. Are you close to a train line or airport?
14. How far is your commute to work?
15. Which way does the house face?
16. Where is the nearest drain?
17. Can you see drain holes above and below window and door frames?
18. Does the house have enough rooms for your needs?
19. Is there plenty of storage space?
20. Does the house have an attic?
21. Are the windows double glazed?
22. What type of locks are on the doors and windows?
23. How old/ sturdy is the front door?
24. Are the rooms large enough for your needs?
25. Is the layout practical?
26. Are there any signs of damp present?
27. Can you see any potential signs of structural damage?
28. Are there any cracks, dents, staining or discolouration on the ceiling/ walls?
29. Are any ceiling sagging?
30. What is the condition of the floor – carpets intact, flooring level etc.
31. If the windows are wooden framed can you see cracks, rotting or any leaks?
32. Check PVC windows for condensation or issues with the sealant around the frame
33. Do you have signal on your mobile phone?
34. Does the house have all utilities running to it? (gas, water, electricity, phone line)
35. Are the walls flat – ripples, bows or dips could indicate damps or movement in the property
36. Do the gutters and downpipes work effectively or are there signs that they’ve leaked?
37. Are there signs that the facia boards and soffits have been damaged?
38. Does the house have a garden?
39. How much maintenance does the garden require?
40. Is the garden south facing to capture the most light?
41. Has any area been recently redecorated – the owners could be trying to cover something up
42. What’s included in the sale – some vendors will add on white goods
43. How long has the property been on the market?
44. If the property has been for sale for a while is it because of price or desirability?
45. Have properties in the nearby area sold recently?
46. How much is the average property worth in the area?
47. How much work needs to be done to the house?
48. How old is the boiler?
49. When was the last time the boiler was serviced?
50. When was the house last rewired?
51. Check there are radiators in every room
52. Where are the electricity points in each room?
53. Will your furnishings fit into the property?
54. Is there scope for development or an extension?
55. Are there enough toilets for your needs?
56. What are the condition of the bathrooms?
57. Is the kitchen relatively new or is it dated?
58. Check inside kitchen cabinets and cupboards for signs of damp or mould etc.
59. Does the cooker come with the property?
60. Why are the vendors selling?
61. How long have the sellers been living there?
62. Try and meet the neighbours, talk to them about the property and the area
63. Walk around the area to see other houses and get a better sense of the area
64. Will you need to pay for the removal of rubbish from the house?
65. What are the EPCs like for the property?
66. What is the chain like – are there any sales that could fall through
67. Do you need to pay stamp duty?
68. Are there any additional searches you’ll need to take out?
69. What council tax band does the property sit in?
70. How much will refurbishing (if needed) cost?
71. How much can you haggle them down?
72. Do you actually like the house – if you don’t like it, don’t buy it!
73. Is the property leasehold or freehold?
74. If leasehold, how long is the lease for?
75. Finally Google the address – you may be surprised what comes up!

There you are, a complete house buying checklist! If you can tick off the majority of these boxes then you may be onto a winner, but make sure you arrange several viewings to ensure you haven’t missed anything.