things to look out for when viewing a house

[comeondover]

Check if your phone has reception there. Turn on the taps to see what the water pressure's like. How overlooked is the garden? What else?

Road noise at different times of day.
Do they have lights switched on in daytime which may indicate it’s a bit dark and gloomy in room so check.
Smell or stains from damp
Dodgy electric wiring
Storage - really hard to have a tidy house when there’s little storage
Garden - where does sun travel in winter and summer, is there sun and shade? Noises in garden. Can neighbours see in? Privacy.
Insulation, draughts around doors and windows - might affect bills.
Visit at different times of week and day.

PUBS!!!!! Never buy a house with a pub in the street unless you know it well.
Schools: traffic is a nightmare in the rush hour.
Cars on bricks...
Untidy gardens, neighbours don't care about their environment.

If house has a driveway and is on a busy road, what is visibility like emerging from the driveway?

If the local river bursts its banks, will your house get flooded?

Closing each room door to check for fit would have saved us the cost of a survey - there was subsidence.
Paying more attention to tiny opening top windows in another property could have saved us money again - there was a damp issue.

I prefer solid (not studded) internal walls. An easy way to check is to knock on the wall as if it’s a front door.
If the house is a semi, is the front door central to the two houses or at the side? If it’s central it’s right next to your neighbour’s which gives you less privacy when visitors call.
If there’s a satellite dish pointing from the back of the house into the garden you’re on a winner.
If there’s a porch you have a layer of defence against the cold in winter.

Can you explain the satellite dish thing please?

Satellite dishes tend to face south.

Another indicator of a sunny back garden is solar panels.

Yes, agreed, flood risk is something I've been thinking about. I look the places up on Google maps if I can to see how close they are to the nearest river. Then irl you can tell how high or low the house is in relation

Our back garden faces south. The back of the roof has solar panels and below them, on the house, is a satellite dish facing into the garden. I hope I’ve explained this properly.

Oh I see, thanks, didn't know that. Floor plans often have the orientation on, an arrow indicating which way's north

a stunt pineapple

So they do. I drive past or go on street view spying out dishes and panels as I find it easier! Occupying south-facing rooms during the day in colder months can save a lot in heating bills.
One property we looked at with a FTB had had a refit but the (tiny) kitchen had no space for a fridge or washing machine.
When was the property last sold and what was the price? Near to hospitals there can be a quick turnover, reflecting staff moves. Elsewhere consider why owners don’t stay long.

Not if they are in your next-door neighbour's garden they aren't. 😂