House Viewing Checklist for Home Buyers

August 10th, 2015 Posted in Buyers Advice

Viewing what could potentially be your new home should always involve more than just a casual browse around the rooms and a flick of a switch. CPM (Complete Project Management) have combined their expertise and industry knowledge to create a guide to help you with what might be the biggest investment of your life.

This guide is easy to use and covers the most important aspects to consider when viewing any house. Keeping a record of all your house viewings will give you the extra confidence when making the final decision when making an offer! In addition if this list highlights any concerns then you may want to investigate into them further before making an offer or even reduce your offer price backed up by your findings below.

Tick the points as you go so you don’t miss a thing!

Front and Back Garden:

Look for uneven ground
Check how big the driveway is and what condition it’s in
Check if the path is in good condition
Check if the fence is sturdy and if it maintains privacy
Check if the garden can be overlooked by neighbours
Look at how easy the garden is to maintain
Look at what direction the garden is facing

Drainage:

Check for any signs of flooding
Look for partially blocked sewers or stormwater drains
Check if there is water overflowing
Be aware of damp or unpleasant smells
Check for a build up of leaves
Check if all drain covers are secure and have no cracks

Roof:

Check for missing or cracked slates and tiles
Check if tiles are misaligned or seem out of place
Check if there is any visible rust among the tiles
Check if there are metal tags indicating past displacement
Check if you can you get easy access to the attic space

Guttering:

Look out for split or damaged gutters
Check whether gutter joints have been pulled apart
Check if the gutters have any holes
Look for any drips or blockages
Look for damp staining down the outside of the wall
Check there is no vegetation growth in the gutter
Be aware of damp smells

Chimney:

Look for a leaning or bulging chimney stack
Look for deterioration of the mortar (brickwork joints)
Check failed and displaced render or leadwork
Look out for any visible signs of damage
Check for dampness leaking into the roof space below
Look out for white salts coming out of the brickwork
Check if there is brown staining on the chimney breast
Check for small plants growing from the chimney stack

Front Entrance:

Check if the front door opens and closes properly
Check for a good locking system
Look for rust
Check for cracks in the plasterwork

Alarms:

Check if the installed alarms work
Check if the burglar alarm has a maintenance contract
Check whether the mains connected smoke alarms
Look if there is a carbon monoxide alarm installed

Floors:

Check for raised external ground levels
Look out for rotting wood (especially in the bathroom area)
Check for springiness in the floor
Look if there are worn carpets

Walls:

Look for cracks more than 3mm in brickwork
Look for dampness on walls and ceilings
Check if there is bulging of the wall
Check if there are rippling effects in the wallpaper
Check if there is any black or green mould growth
Check for a musty smell

Windows:

Check if there is brittle or cracking sealant around the frame
Look if the windows fit in their frames
Check for water running down windows with pools at the base
Look for signs of rot
Check whether the windows are lockable
Check if they have a certificate of installation and a guarantee

Electrical Wiring:

Check the light switches work
Look at the switchboard for any discolouration
Check the condition of the sockets
Check if there are any exposed wires

Central Heating/Boiler:

Check if the heating works efficiently
Check how long it takes for hot water to come through
Check if there are any signs of dripping or rust
Check for signs of damp patches under the radiator valves
Check for a regular maintenance contract for the boiler
Look at the general appearance of the boiler

Alterations:

Check the extra work or features by previous owners
Look out for work that’s not on the house plan
Check the loft conversion plans, layout and finish

Pests:

Look for teeth marks on boxes or bags in the attic
Check for traces of droppings
Check the attic for any sign of wasps nests

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CPM (Complete Project Management) provide free advice to home buyers in relation to maintenance and buildings. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to speak with an expert.