The UK housing market sits in a state of flux right now, with a cooling of demand and, subsequently, prices predicted for 2023. Whilst that levelling off is yet to materialise in real terms of affordability, might this year be a good time to tentatively place a foot on the property ladder?
Of course, even higher levels of scrutiny than usual are required when surveying a market that may start to get a little desperate as prices react to a tumultuous geopolitical landscape, and when looking at houses with a view to potentially buying them, there are some questions that you should always pose. These are those; our 10 IDEAL questions to ask when viewing a house.
Why Are You Moving?
Combined with ‘how long have you lived here?’, these enquiries will give a pretty good indication of the livability of the place, and if any underlying issues are obstructive to a simple, comfortable existence in the property. If they’re moving for work or upsizing for family, then you can keep those alarm bells on mute. Should they be packing up and moving on after a surprisingly short stint though, be wary.
How Long Has The Property Been On The Market?
In the modern, cut throat to-and-fro of the housing market, places don’t stay ‘for sale’ for long, and this looks to be especially true for 2023, with that predicted price drop we mentioned earlier seeing a reduction by as much as 15%. Anything longer than 6 months indicates an inflexibility on the seller’s part or the consistent emergence of structural or contractual issues. If you want to avoid headaches, stress and broken promises, bear this in mind.
What Is That Smell?
Using your nose as well as your eyes is key to unearthing a whole host of issues. Underlying odours could mean a lack of decent air circulation or more troubling structural issues.
The smell of sewage could well indicate blocked drains or worse. Moreover, exposure to even small amounts of sewer gas (hydrogen sulfide) which smells like rotten eggs can lead to hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Symptoms include nervousness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and drowsiness.
But that’s not all you should be priming your nose to sniff out. A musty, dank smell points the finger at damp which can superficially be hidden for the length of a viewing, but in time can cause real problems to both the building and your health. Indeed, damp and mould can cause respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma.
So, keep your nose primed as much as your eyes peeled; you wouldn’t want to have to call in sewage cleaning services or plumbers in the first few weeks of your new home’s ‘honeymoon period’, after all.
Read: The most common causes of a blocked drain
Do You Mind If I Turn This Thing On?
When viewing a property you should turn on taps to check the plumbing. You should flick light switches off and on to check electricity. You should plug stuff in to check a fully functioning plug socket system. Basically, any switch, plug, tap and so on, is fair game. Check everything.
What’s That Sound?
We’ve already talked about our eyes and nose, but keep your ear to the ground, too. If the boiler sounds like it’s growling or the pipes grumbling, there could be issues afoot that aren’t aesthetically obvious. Equally, ask yourself; can you hear the persistent roar of traffic, both road and air? Consider how this might affect your quality of life.
Is The Property Listed?
In short, a listed building is one deemed to be of architectural or historic interest. You can find the answer to this particular question here. If the property is listed, any additional works you wish to carry out are going to involve a lot of bureaucracy and likely be denied. So, whilst it may be appealing to live in a castle, for instance, you won’t be able to add a hot tub to the top of every turret.
What’s Included In The Sale?
Combine this question with ‘will you be taking this with you?’ for optimum results. There may be items in the house and garden which bring the whole house to life, but when you move in, they’ve gone with the owner. On the flip side, junk may be waiting for you when you move in if you don’t request for it to disappear with the previous occupants. Getting rid of stuff is notoriously hard, so keep this in mind.
Who/How Are The Neighbours?
Because everybody needs good ones, right?
An obvious one, but a dealbreaker which in many cases won’t be apparent until after the deal is made. Noisy, antisocial folk nextdoor, above or below can ruin an otherwise dream property, so make the necessary enquiries and if you’re confident enough, heaven forbid, go round and introduce yourself! Considering the other side of the coin, neighbours who you get along with can enrichen your life. So just find out.
Can I Get My Compass Out?
You’ve moved in. The champagne is on ice. You’ve got the glasses polished and friends round. You step into the garden to make that first, sun-soaked toast but you’re shrouded in shade and disappointment. Checking which way the house faces (technically, this means the front door) will help determine how many rays you’ll be receiving. This doesn’t only apply to the garden, but the flow of natural light into the house, too.
How Much Are The Bills?
A good indication of the function of the central heating and waterflow, as well as the internet and electricity, this one, and a more pertinent enquiry than ever due to the recent spike in energy prices. Relatively large bills (when compared to places of a similar size) should serve as a warning that the house you’re considering buying is left wanting in terms of energy efficiency. Council tax is also highly variable and can differ even from street to street, so check this, too.
The Bottom Line
Of course, these questions are just the beginning, but if you’re viewing several houses in quick succession, these 10 cursory enquiries can reveal so much about a property. Now, when can we expect our invite to your housewarming party in the post?