20 questions to ask when viewing a house

Asking the right questions at a house viewing is crucial. It’s important to know that not everything will be disclosed to you, it’s your responsibility to find out everything you need to know about a property. Our handy list of questions to ask at a viewing will get you all the vital information you need.

Here’s what questions to ask when you’re viewing a property:

Ask this one early. Understanding how long the house has been on the market will give you a good indication of how desirable it is. If it’s been on the market for a while (3 months or longer), then it could indicate that there is a reason it’s been up for sale for that long.

You can then ask the estate agent whether anyone has previously made an offer, and why the sale fell through. Perhaps they received poor survey results, found hidden issues, or had a difficult time with the seller. There could be any reason why a house is on the market for longer than average, but asking this early will give you a good idea.

You want to get as much information about the sale as possible. Asking this question will probably give you a little more insight into the seller’s situation, this could work in your favour if you find out the seller is looking for a quick sale.

You might also find out that there is an issue with the property, this again works in your favour (it just means you know early on to avoid purchasing).

The estate agent is likely to tell you this information whether you ask or not since they can make it seem like you should act fast amid interest, or to entice you to be the first to offer. They have a big incentive to get a price agreed so take everything they say with a pinch of salt and listen out for any hints they might drop.

Try not to let the estate agent pressure you here, buying a home is a huge purchase decision, make sure you don’t show too much interest or seem overexcited. Take your time while viewing and collecting information about a home.

This should be included in the property listing, but make sure you ask to be sure. If you’re a first-time buyer, make sure you understand the difference, as it could mean annual costs/charges that you might not have considered.

Freehold means you own the property and the land it sits on – simple. Leasehold means you’re essentially renting the land from someone else, often with ongoing fees and restrictions.

Freeholds are more desirable as you own the building and the land it’s on. If you find out it’s a leasehold, ask about the remaining lease and annual charges.

Don’t be afraid to ask this directly – major issues related to the structure of the property could make your dream home a nightmare. Structural issues could end up costing thousands to fix.

Look around while you ask. Are there any cracks in the walls, uneven floors, or doors that don’t close properly? These could be small tells of subsidence or structural movement.

Go further and ask specifically about the roof, foundation and any previous structural work. If they’ve had issues before, there’s a good chance they’ll resurface. Getting a heads up now means you can factor in repair costs into your offer or walk away before you waste both time and money.

You know you’ll be getting the property, but what else are the seller including? Are they leaving any white goods or furniture? Is the garden shed included? How about fixtures and fittings?

Make sure you get an understanding of exactly what you’ll be getting for the price. There’ll be a full breakdown of what’s included in the T10 form later in the conveyancing process. But in the meantime, your estate agent must provide information about things that could impact the purchase if you were to move forward.

Top tip: Make notes on anything the estate agent says during the viewing that could be disputable later.

This one is a bit cheeky, but you’d be surprised how often estate agents will give you hints if you ask with intent and confidence. Remember, they want to get a deal done, so they might drop clues if they think it’ll help get that done.

Don’t expect a straight answer or figure like “they’ll take 10k less”. Instead listen for phrases like “they’re quite motivated” or “there might be room for negotiation”. This might mean the seller has some flexibility.

Following on from the previous question, you can also try to gauge what the seller’s situation is. Have they found their next home? Are they in a property chain? Do they need to move quickly? A seller who needs to move quickly might be more willing to negotiate than someone who can afford to wait.

The agent might play coy and say, "make an offer and we'll see," but even that tells you something. If they were confident about getting the full asking price, they'd probably say so. Use this information when you're deciding how much to offer.

This is something that should also be on the property listing. Make sure you don’t just know it but also understand what it means. A poor rating could cost you hundreds each year in energy costs.

Ask to see the actual EPC certificate, not just the rating. It’ll show you exactly where the property is losing heat and what improvements can be made.

This question can reveal whether you're walking into a good deal or about to overpay. If the property was valued significantly higher or lower recently, you want to know why.

Ask if they've had any recent valuations or if the asking price has been reduced since going on the market. A price drop might mean they were being unrealistic initially, or it could signal underlying issues that other buyers spotted.

You can also check online property portals to see the price history yourself. Check the Land Registry sold prices and Zoopla to get prices for that specific property, and the local area.

You can also see here how often and many owners the property has had, short stints might signify an underlying issue with the property or the area.

If any work has been done, ask about consent and approval. Work done without proper consent can uncover a minefield of legal problems that could become your expensive headache.

Ask specifically about any extensions, loft conversions, or major alterations. If they can't produce the paperwork, that's a red flag. Unpermitted work can make your property difficult to sell later and might need expensive remedial work to bring it up to standard.

Ask for any information from the current owners around monthly bills rather than rough estimates. Winter heating costs can vary massively between similar properties, and you’ll need to factor this into your monthly budget.

When you’re viewing a property, test your phone signal in different rooms – dead zones are more common than you might think.

Ask the agent about the broadband provider and speeds. If you work from home or stream a lot, poor internet can become a real problem. Some areas are stuck with basic speeds that’ll make video calls a nightmare.

You can also do some research yourself. Check mobile phone coverage and broadband availability with the property’s postcode.

The estate agent might not even know the answer to this, but it’s still worth asking. Ask about noise levels, parking disputes, or any ongoing issues with boundaries or shared access.

If you can, try and visit the property at different times, especially evenings and weekends when you’re going to be there most if you live there. What seems like a quiet street on a Tuesday afternoon might be a little different on a Saturday night.

Don’t be shy about asking to look behind sofas or move items to check walls or skirting boards. Most sellers understand that serious buyers need to see what they’re buying.

Look for signs of damp, pest damage, or poor maintenance that might be hidden behind furniture. Check plug sockets, radiators and window frames properly – these are common problem areas that staged furniture might conceal.

You can also take this opportunity to test the water is running and that there are no annoying leaks, check taps, showers and baths. Test that the water runs both hot and cold.

A boiler replacement can easily cost £3,000 to £5,000, so you want to know if you’re inheriting someone else’s problem. Ask to see it and check the age – anything over 15 years might mean its time is nearly up.

Look for any obvious signs of leaks, rust, or recent repairs, factor in a replacement into your budget and negotiation strategy if you think you might need a new one.

If you’re buying a leasehold, this number is crucial. Anything under 80 years becomes difficult to mortgage and expensive to extend.

Make sure you get the exact number. A lease with 85 years sounds good until you realise that in 5 years, you’ll hit 80. If it’s getting short, ask if the seller has investigated extension costs. Lease extensions can cost thousands, and the shorter it gets, the more expensive it becomes.

If it’s a listed building, you’ll need permission for almost any changes – from replacing windows to painting the door. This can make simple maintenance expensive and time-consuming.

Ask what grade of listing the property has and what restrictions apply. Some listings are stricter than others, but all will limit what you can do and potentially affect your insurance costs.

Don't assume it's obvious from looking - plenty of properties have listing restrictions that aren't immediately visible but will become your problem when you want to make changes.

See if you can have a chat with the sellers, sometimes they’ll be there when you’re viewing the property. This could give you some insights that the estate agent may not share. If they’re not there, see if you can get contact info to contact them and ask any questions.

Ask about their experience living there, what they’ll miss most, or any tips for the house. You might learn about great local shops, parking tricks, or seasonal occurrences.

Council tax varies dramatically between properties and areas - it could be the difference between £1,200 and £3,000+ per year. This is a significant ongoing cost that many buyers forget to factor into their budget.

Ask for the exact band and current annual amount. You can check this yourself online later, but getting it upfront helps you budget properly from day one.