A useful viewing leaves you with observations, answers and questions for the right person. It is not a test of whether you can spot every building defect.
Start with your own essentials
Bring the short list of things the home must make possible. Try the layout against everyday tasks: getting in and out, storing belongings, working or caring for someone. Record what you still need to measure or revisit.
Separate an observation from a checked answer
| What you noticed or were told | Useful follow-up |
|---|---|
| A patch that might be damp | Record the location and ask a suitable surveyor about condition. A viewing does not diagnose the cause. |
| An annual service charge | Ask for the amount, period, inclusions and proposed works. Your conveyancer (the solicitor or licensed professional handling the legal purchase) checks the lease and documents. |
| “That parking space comes with it” | Record the answer and ask your conveyancer to verify the legal position. |
| A previous occupant’s energy bill | Check the heating and EPC. Their use and tariff will not predict your own bill. |
Keep the questions that matter next
Write who gave an answer and when. Mark an unanswered question as open. A recorded answer is not the same as a professional check; do not turn the number of completed boxes into a verdict on the home.
Choose the right next check
A lender’s valuation (a check of the home’s value for the lender; not a condition survey) serves a different purpose from a survey (an inspection of the home’s condition) of the home’s condition. Ask a surveyor which service suits the property. Your conveyancer deals with title, tenure and legal enquiries.
You can start saved viewing notes without completing a financial plan. When you have an income-first budget, the same saved home can also show its cash and monthly costs.
Checked 26 October 2026. Rules and product availability can change; check the original information before acting.
Which? · House viewing checklist ↗RICS · Home survey purpose and levels ↗GOV.UK · Making an offer ↗GOV.UK · How to buy a home ↗MoneyHelper · Applying for a mortgage ↗Take the questions with you.
Start a saved notebook, even before you have a financial plan. Keep observations and open questions together.
Prepare my viewing notes →