How to view a property correctly!

Check your Property

When you view a property, there are certain facts you need to establish from the inspection. These facts will help you understand the layout of the property and the amount of work required to refurbish to the market’s requirements.

To establish all the necessary information from a viewing, you will need to spend some time at the property. Do not allow the agent to pressure you into completing a quick inspection because they have another viewing elsewhere. If this is the case then re-book the viewing to allow for more time.

The viewing should be done in two stages.

Firstly, you should wonder around the property to establish the layout and consider any layout changes to make the property more habitable. You should imagine yourself in the shoes of your prospective buyer or tenant and what they may pick up as potential problems with the existing layout.

Secondly, start from the main door again and review the whole property so that you can check every possible detail. I would always advise to have a camera phone for taking pictures along with a PDA, notebook or a small recorder for making notes. This is important as you progress to viewing several properties over a short period of time, the details may become blurred and its always handy to refer back to your notes.

You need to make notes for costing purposes. They will become useful to refer back to when estimating the cost of the refurbishment and requesting various tradesmen to establish the extent of the work needed.

Ensure that you make notes on the following areas of the property.

Front and back gardens
What is the state of the garden walls?
Do they need repair work?
Is there any rubbish in the garden?
Does the garden need landscaping?

Outside of the house
Are there any visible cracks or damaged areas to brickwork or rendering?
Are there any cracks around doors and windows?
Are there any cracks close to the ground?
What is the state of the mortar?
Are there any signs of damp?
Do the walls seem straight?
What is the condition of the guttering?

Inside walls
Are there any visible cracks or damaged areas of plasterwork?
Are there any cracks around doors and windows?
Are there any cracks close to the ground?
What is the general state of the walls?
Are there any signs of damp?
Do the walls seem straight?

Windows and doors
What are the windows made from?
What are the doors made from?
Is there a FENSA certificate?
What is the condition of the frames and window panes?

Roof
What is the condition of the roof?
Are there any stains in the internal ceilings showing evidence of leaks?
What is the condition of the ceilings?
Can you get access to the loft space to check for daylight through the roof?
What is the condition of the felt?
What is the condition of the chimney?
Does the flashing need repair?

Floors
What are the floors made of?
Do the floor boards creak?
Are the joists showing signs of movement?
Is there any evidence of dry rot in the wood work?

Damp Proof Course
Is there a valid Damp Proof Course guarantee?
Is it worth conducting a Damp and Timber survey (usually free)?
Are there signs of damp?
Check around ceilings, water pipes, windows, doors and floors.
Are there any air bricks or vents installed?

Electrics
How old are the electrics?
Is there a valid NICEIC certificate?
What is the state of the electric wires, light fittings and sockets?
Does the circuit board need replacing?

Gas
What is the condition of the gas pipes?
Is there a valid Corgi Gas Certificate?

Bathroom
What is the condition of the bathroom suite?
What is the condition of the plumbing?
Are there any water leaks?

Kitchen
What is the condition of the kitchen?
Are the kitchen units in need of repair or replacement?

Heating
What is the condition of the central heating system?
How old is the boiler?
Is it a combi-boiler?

Drainage
What is the condition of the sewage drains?

External buildings

Using the answers to the previous questions, assess the condition of any external buildingsincluding garage, sheds and greenhouses etc.

Driveways
What is the condition of paths and driveways?
Do the walkways need attention or weeding?

General
Does the house need modernising?
Does the house need wallpapering or painting?
Does the house need new floor coverings such as carpet or laminate?
Does the layout of the house need to altering to make it suit the market place?
Do the internal walls need knocking down or new partitions need building?

The questions give a general idea of what a professional surveyor may look for in a property to obtain a valuation. The answers will also help in compiling a quote for the amount of work needed to get the house back on the market.