Property Viewing Warning Signs: What to Notice and What to Ask

Start outside and look at the whole building

Stand far enough away to see roof slopes, chimney stacks, gutters and the relationship between the building and surrounding ground. Look for displaced coverings, overflowing rainwater goods, heavily weathered masonry or vegetation that may obstruct inspection.

Cracks have many possible causes and appearance alone rarely provides a reliable diagnosis. Record their location and pattern, then ask a competent surveyor to assess significance in context.

• Are roof lines visibly uneven?
• Do downpipes discharge sensibly?
• Has ground level been raised against walls?
• Are extensions or removed walls apparent?

Use your senses indoors without making assumptions

Musty smells, staining, peeling finishes or heavy condensation deserve questions, but they do not identify a single cause. Fresh decoration may be entirely innocent; note it without accusing the seller of concealment.

Look at junctions around windows, ceilings, chimney breasts, bathrooms and external walls. Ask how the home is heated and ventilated and whether previous leaks or repairs are documented.

Ask about services, but do not test beyond permission

Note the apparent age and accessibility of the boiler, consumer unit and visible pipework. Ask for service records, safety documentation and guarantees where relevant. Do not remove covers or operate equipment without permission.

A home survey does not normally provide specialist testing of gas, electrical, heating or drainage systems. Your surveyor may recommend appropriately qualified inspections.

• Where are the meters, stopcock and consumer unit?
• Is hot water available from more than one outlet?
• Are there signs of repeated drain blockage?
• What equipment or appliances are included in the sale?

Look for alteration clues

Loft conversions, removed chimney breasts, open-plan layouts, replacement windows and extensions may require legal and technical checks. Ask what permissions, approvals, certificates and warranties exist, but let your conveyancer verify documentation.

Matching finishes do not prove structural work was properly designed. Equally, missing paperwork does not by itself establish that work is unsafe; it creates a question that needs proper investigation.

Turn observations into a survey brief

After the viewing, write factual notes while they are fresh. Share photographs only if you had permission to take them. Give the surveyor your concerns before inspection and ask whether the property’s age, condition and construction suggest a particular survey level.

Official and professional sources

• GOV.UK: Deciding on a home
• RICS: House surveys