25 Things You Shouldn’t Miss
Buying a home is exciting, but it’s also one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make.
It’s easy to walk into a property, fall in love with the kitchen, picture where the sofa will go and start imagining Christmas in the new living room.
But beneath the fresh paint and stylish flooring, there could be issues that aren’t immediately obvious.
A home can look perfect during a 20-minute viewing and still have expensive problems waiting for its new owner.
That’s why it’s important to look beyond the décor.
Here are 25 things to check before buying a new home.
1. Don’t just look at the house — listen to it
One of the easiest things to forget during a viewing is to actually listen.
Turn off the television and other background noise if possible.
Can you hear traffic?
Are there noisy neighbours?
Can you hear pipes knocking?
Is there a boiler, extractor fan or other appliance making an unusual noise?
A house can look peaceful while sounding very different once you actually stop and listen.
2. Check the boiler
Don’t simply look at whether the property has central heating.
Find out:
How old the boiler is
Whether it has been serviced
Whether there are service records
Whether it is still under warranty
What type of boiler it is
Whether the heating works properly
Whether hot water reaches the taps quickly
A boiler can be one of the more expensive household systems to replace, so its age and condition are worth knowing before you commit to buying.
If the seller has documentation for the boiler, ask to see it.
3. Turn on the taps
It might feel slightly strange during a viewing, but checking the taps can tell you quite a lot.
Run the kitchen tap.
Try a bathroom tap.
Turn on the shower if you’re able to.
Check the water pressure and how quickly hot water arrives.
Also look underneath sinks for signs of previous leaks.
4. Flush the toilets
Another simple check that many buyers forget.
Flush each toilet if possible.
Does it refill normally?
Does the flush feel weak?
Does water continue running afterwards?
Check around the base of the toilet for signs of previous leakage.
Small plumbing problems aren’t necessarily a reason to walk away from a property, but they are worth knowing about before you buy.
5. Look underneath sinks
Open the cupboards beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks.
You’re looking for:
Water stains
Dampness
Swollen wood
Mould
Corrosion
Makeshift repairs
Strong smells
A cupboard full of cleaning products can sometimes hide what’s actually going on underneath.
6. Look closely at ceilings
Don’t just admire the light fittings.
Look at the ceiling itself.
Brown or yellow staining could indicate previous water damage. Freshly painted patches can sometimes be worth asking about too.
Pay particular attention around:
Bathrooms
Chimneys
Loft hatches
Roof valleys
Extensions
A surveyor can investigate concerns in much more detail, but your viewing is a good opportunity to identify areas worth asking about.
7. Examine the walls
Look for cracks, bubbling paint, peeling wallpaper and areas that appear unusually damp.
Not every crack means there’s a serious structural problem. Equally, you shouldn’t automatically dismiss obvious signs without finding out what caused them.
If you’re concerned, raise it with your surveyor.
8. Check the windows
Open and close several windows.
Do they operate smoothly?
Are there signs of condensation between panes?
Are frames damaged?
Do they feel draughty?
Replacing windows throughout a property can be expensive, so don’t assume they’re all in perfect condition simply because they look good from the outside.
9. Look behind furniture where possible
Large sofas, wardrobes and other furniture can conceal walls and floors.
You don’t need to start moving somebody’s furniture around, but if there are areas you can’t see, remember that your view of the property is incomplete.
Pay particular attention to corners, external walls and areas where damp might otherwise be hidden.
10. Inspect the floors
Walk through each room rather than simply looking at the flooring.
Does the floor feel level?
Are there noticeably soft or springy areas?
Are there damaged boards?
Do tiles move under your feet?
Older properties naturally have some unevenness, but anything that concerns you should be investigated.
11. Look in the loft
If you have access to the loft, take a look.
Check for:
Signs of water ingress
Damp
Mould
Damaged roof timbers
Insulation
Poor ventilation
Daylight coming through areas where it shouldn’t
The loft can tell you a lot about the condition of the roof.
12. Look at the roof from outside
You don’t need to climb onto it.
From ground level, look for obvious signs such as missing or damaged tiles, sagging areas, damaged gutters and signs of moss or deterioration.
A roof can be expensive to repair, so it deserves more attention than simply asking whether it “looks okay.”
13. Check the gutters and downpipes
Look at where rainwater is supposed to go.
Are gutters damaged?
Are downpipes securely attached?
Do they appear to discharge water properly?
Signs of staining around external walls can sometimes indicate that rainwater hasn’t been managed correctly.
14. Check the electrics
Look at sockets and switches throughout the property.
Check for obvious damage, scorching or anything that looks unsafe.
Also look at the consumer unit.
If the electrical installation appears old or you’re concerned about its condition, consider obtaining appropriate professional advice.
Don’t attempt to test or repair electrical systems yourself.
15. Find out when the heating system was last serviced
A boiler might look modern but still have an unknown maintenance history.
Ask the seller or estate agent for documentation.
Citizens Advice also recommends checking whether a boiler has a warranty, guarantee or insurance cover and checking the terms if more than one form of cover exists.
16. Check the EPC — but don’t stop there
The Energy Performance Certificate can give you useful information about the property’s energy efficiency.
Look at the current rating and the recommendations for improvement.
But remember that an EPC isn’t a complete assessment of the condition of the property.
A house can have a reasonable EPC while still having plumbing, roofing, electrical or structural issues.
17. Find out how old the major appliances are
Don’t assume everything included with the property is relatively new.
Ask about:
Boiler
Cooker
Oven
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Fridge/freezer
Heating controls
If you’re buying a property with lots of integrated appliances, knowing their age could help you plan for future replacement costs.
18. Check the drainage
Run taps and flush toilets where possible.
Listen for unusual gurgling and look for slow drainage.
If you’re particularly concerned about the property’s drainage, specialist investigation may be appropriate.
A blockage that’s inconvenient is one thing.
A more serious drainage problem can be considerably more expensive.
19. Find out whether alterations were properly approved
Has the property been extended?
Has the loft been converted?
Has a wall been removed?
Has a conservatory been added?
Has the layout been significantly changed?
Ask questions about the work.
Your solicitor or conveyancer should investigate relevant permissions, approvals and paperwork as part of the legal process. Citizens Advice specifically recommends checking whether alterations had the planning permission, building approval or completion certificates that were required.
20. Check for signs of previous leaks
Don’t only look for active leaks.
Look for evidence that something has happened previously.
Staining, freshly painted sections, damaged flooring, swollen cupboards or unusual patches on ceilings can all be reasons to ask questions.
The seller may have a perfectly reasonable explanation — but it’s better to know.
21. Research the property’s flood risk
Flooding isn’t something you want to discover after you’ve moved in.
Ask your solicitor to investigate the property’s flood history and risk.
It’s also worth speaking to people who live nearby.
Official guidance notes that flood history can affect insurance availability and premiums.
22. Visit the area at different times
A Saturday afternoon viewing can give you a very different impression of an area from a Monday morning or Friday evening.
If possible, visit at different times.
Check:
Traffic
Parking
Noise
Street lighting
Local businesses
Public transport
School traffic
Neighbourhood activity
You’re not just buying a building.
You’re buying into a location.
23. Ask yourself what the house will cost to run
The mortgage isn’t the only monthly expense.
Think about:
Heating
Electricity
Water
Council tax
Buildings insurance
Contents insurance
Maintenance
Service charges if applicable
Future repairs
Official consumer guidance recommends considering both one-off purchasing costs and ongoing costs such as heating, insurance, council tax, service charges and repairs.
24. Don’t rely solely on the mortgage valuation
This is one of the most important points.
A mortgage valuation is not the same thing as a detailed survey of the property.
RICS recommends a home survey when buying a property because it provides an assessment of the property’s condition and can highlight problems that need further investigation.
If you’re buying an older property, a property that has been significantly altered, or one where you’ve already noticed potential problems, professional advice can be particularly valuable.
25. Think about what could go wrong after you move in
This is the part many buyers don’t think about until it’s too late.
Imagine you’ve just moved in.
Then the boiler stops working.
Or a pipe starts leaking.
Or the toilet won’t stop running.
Or you discover a plumbing problem.
Or an electrical fault develops.
These aren’t necessarily reasons not to buy a property. They’re simply examples of why it’s sensible to understand the condition of the home and have a plan for unexpected problems.
The biggest mistake buyers make
The biggest mistake isn’t necessarily failing to spot one particular problem.
It’s becoming emotionally attached to the property before properly investigating it.
It’s very easy to think:
“This is the one.”
Then suddenly the survey feels like an inconvenience rather than an important part of the buying process.
Try to approach the purchase objectively.
A beautiful kitchen can be replaced.
Paint can be changed.
Furniture can be moved.
But expensive underlying problems are a different matter.
Before you make an offer
Before committing to a property, make sure you’ve considered:
The property
Boiler and heating
Plumbing
Electrics
Roof
Gutters
Windows
Damp
Cracks
Drainage
Loft
Appliances
The paperwork
Survey
EPC
Planning permissions
Building approvals
Guarantees and warranties
Property searches
Flood risk
The finances
Mortgage
Stamp Duty where applicable
Solicitor/conveyancing costs
Survey costs
Moving costs
Insurance
Heating and energy bills
Potential repairs
The area
Noise
Parking
Transport
Local amenities
Future developments
Flood risk
Neighbourhood at different times of day
Don’t let the excitement make the decision for you
Buying a home should be exciting.
But it’s also worth taking a step back and looking at the property with a critical eye.
A house that looks perfect isn’t necessarily perfect — and a house with a few minor issues isn’t necessarily a bad purchase.
The key is understanding what you’re buying.
Get the appropriate professional checks carried out, ask questions, investigate anything that concerns you and make sure you’ve budgeted for the costs of owning the property rather than just the cost of buying it.
And once you’ve completed the purchase, remember that even a well-maintained home can suffer an unexpected breakdown.
That’s why it’s worth knowing what you’re responsible for, keeping important household information accessible and considering whether home emergency cover is appropriate for your circumstances.
Your dream home should be somewhere you enjoy living — not somewhere that surprises you with a huge repair bill two weeks after you move in.