House Viewing Checklist
Viewing houses is an important step towards owning your own new build property and being certain about the decision you’re going to make. Whether you’re viewing a show home or a house that could eventually become your home, we recommend going in prepared with a list of things you want to learn from the experience. Asking the right questions can ensure you receive the key information to help you decide whether the house is right for you.
If you’re a first time buyer, or haven’t viewed a house for a while, we’ve compiled some house viewing tips so you know all of the right questions to ask when viewing a house and what to look out for.
What to Look For When Viewing a House
Before going into a house viewing, you should consider what the deal breakers are for you and your family. Whether it be the size of the garden, off-street parking availability, or air source heating, you should make a list of priorities. When you’re there, you may forget to look for certain requirements, so having this in a list format makes it easy to tick off.
Size of the Property
Looking at the property itself, can you fit all of your belongings happily in the space? Using two different examples, if you need a home office you’ll want to make sure there is room for a desk and chair, or if you have a passion for cooking you’ll want to ensure you can store all of your utensils and tools in the kitchen.
For families with young children, you may want to consider how they will grow with the house – will the rooms still be an appropriate size as they get older?
Style of the Property
When purchasing your own home, it’s likely that you’ll want to change some design elements to fit your personal style. It is, however, useful if core aspects such as the flooring, bathroom tiles, or kitchen cupboards are to your taste so you do not have to pay to change them. When buying a new build home, it is possible that you could have some involvement in the design process.
Subject to build stage, you may be able to choose interiors such as kitchen styles or upgrades. When viewing a new build house, this is a great question to ask.
Questions to Ask When Viewing a House
You might be wondering what to ask when viewing a house, so we’ve put together a list of key questions and why they’re important to ask. These questions are targeted towards individuals looking at new build homes in particular.
What is the reservation fee?
To reserve a new build property and ensure no one else can buy it, it is likely that you’ll pay a reservation fee. This could be included in the cost of the property or not, so it’s a good question to ask when viewing a house.
Is the property leasehold or freehold?
As discussed in our blog on the topic, you don’t own the land that the property is standing on if you have a leasehold property but you do if you have a freehold house.
Can I choose my exact property?
If the development is not fully built yet, you might be buying off-plan. If this is the case, it is beneficial to view a completed property similar to yours. If it is safe to do so, you could be allowed to go to the plot of land where your house will be built to determine factors such as whether your garden will be facing the sun or how close to the road you’ll be.
Who are the energy suppliers?
Energy bills can be a hefty price to pay on top of a mortgage, so you’ll want to find out in advance who the gas, water, and electricity supplier is. You may also be able to receive an estimate for the property’s monthly running costs.
What broadband and TV connections are currently available?
Something that is often missed in house viewings but plays an important role in most of our lives, is the ability to access the internet. With this, you’ll also want to know what the mobile phone coverage is like.
It’s Time to Start Your House Viewing Journey!
Now you’re ready to start the house viewing process, check out our latest developments in Shropshire and Staffordshire with County Town Homes. Have any further questions on the house viewing process? Contact a member of our friendly team with any queries you may have.
