Education

What to look for when viewing a house

2 March 2026

When you’re on your homebuying journey, your first house viewing can be an incredibly exciting experience. You get to imagine yourself living in this brand-new home, and if everything matches your expectations and needs, it’s a big step towards home ownership. 

But unless you’ve attended plenty before, house viewings can be intimidating. What do you need to look for in a house viewing? What kinds of red flags should you be watching for, and what questions should you ask to make sure that you get the full picture? 

To help you along, we’ve compiled this handy house viewing checklist. This will get you up to speed, so that you can attend your next house viewing with confidence.

1. The surrounding area

The list of things you should look for when viewing a house starts before you step through the front door. 

It’s important to get an idea of what the area around your new home looks like. Is the neighbourhood clean and appealing, and are conveniences like shops right on your doorstep? Where are the nearby schools, and what are their Ofsted ratings? How easy is it to ride public transport? 

These considerations can be researched well before you even attend a viewing, and it will put you in a confident position when you actually turn up. The estate agent or vendor taking you around the viewing will likely have plenty of answers for your questions, but it doesn’t hurt to come as prepared as possible.

2. Structural considerations

Next, take a look at the outside structural factors that could impact your new home. The estate agent showing you around will be able to help with these questions, so make sure to ask about: 

• The roof: How old is it, are there tiles missing, and if it’s flat, when was it last checked? Roofs can be very costly to replace or repair, though for Shared Ownership properties, the management of this may come under your sinking fund payments – always ask to make sure!
• The walls: Are there cracks or signs of subsidence? It’s also worth asking about insulation and making sure that you’ve seen the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. New build homes – like all of our Shared Ownership properties – tend to be much more energy efficient by default.
• The windows: What level of glazing (single, double, triple) do they have? Are the frames in good condition, and have any of the glass panes blown? Make sure to try opening and closing the windows once you’re inside, too. 

A majority of our Shared Ownership homes at L&G are new-builds and will have been signed off structurally before being put on the market, but it is always important to check for these things!

3. Sizing it up

When assembling your own house viewing checklist, make sure you know the dimensions of your current furniture and the space that you’ll need once you move into your Shared Ownership home. 

To get this right, come equipped with a handful of tools (and knowledge) that will help you to make your move a seamless one: 

• Tape measure: Don’t be afraid to measure-up rooms and spaces to make sure that your items will be able to fit. There’ll be nothing more frustrating than moving in and learning after the fact that your bedframe is too large for the room you were planning to put it in.
• A notebook: Make a note of all the dimensions you need to remember, so that you have these to hand when you attend a viewing. You can always save these on your phone, but it might be worth keeping everything house-related in a dedicated notebook.
• A spirit level: This could seem like overkill, but if you’re serious about checking the dimensions and build quality of your potential new home, a spirit level can give you peace of mind that everything is as it should be. This may be something you bring along on a second or third viewing, rather than the first time you get a feel for the house.

4. The details

As part of your viewing, make sure to gather as much information as you can about the actual nuts-and-bolts of living in your new Shared Ownership home. 

For example, what does the staircasing potential look like once you’ve purchased your share and moved in? Some Shared Ownership homes allow you to staircase to 100% ownership, while others may have limits on how much of the property you can own. 

Also, can you decorate and renovate? It’s a popular Shared Ownership myth that you can’t make changes to your home, but for substantial improvements (like conservatories or additional floors), you’ll need to obtain permission from the property management company. Getting insight into this early could guide your decision.

5. Repeat viewings

To get a real feel for whether you want to live in this new home, you’ll need to come back more than once. 

Your first viewing is ideal for getting that initial impression. Does this seem like somewhere you want to live? Is it bright, spacious, and homely? 

Second (and even third) viewings are when you really drill down into the details. This is when you can bring along your measuring tools, and grill the person showing you around about the specifics of day-to-day life in this new property. 

Don’t be afraid to come equipped with a list of questions that you need answered. The seller will want you to be as informed as you can be, because it’ll mean you’re more invested once the buying process gets underway.

Top tips for your viewing

As well as the previous pointers, here are some quick tips to keep in mind when attending a viewing: 

• South-facing gardens: If you want as much sunshine as you can get, you’ll want a south-facing garden. This guarantees maximum exposure, especially during the bright summery months.
• Return at night: Almost all viewings will take place during the daytime, but to get a comprehensive idea of your new life, make sure to return to the property at night. This might expose noisy neighbours, or highlight just how peaceful it really is!
• Mobile coverage: When viewing a property, take out your phone and try browsing online. This will give you a feel for what mobile coverage is like, but also check what kind of internet providers are available once you move in.