Property viewing: what questions would you ask when viewing this house?

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This house has great outdoor space with fantastic views www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70912725.html However, the inside clearly needs work. What would you be looking for when viewing this evening property, and what questions would you ask?

I am no expert but I would ask about the boiler and wiring.

I don't know anything about that area, but that looks to be great value. Absolutely stunning gardens and so much potential. How does its price compare to similar properties that are for sale and have been modernised?

I don't think I'd touch anywhere with oil fired central heating with a barge pole. Too many stories of people getting no fuel deliveries because of strikes and bad weather. I am a bit of a pessimist though. It's a totally great house. Where will the oil be stored.

It looks like there is no fence between the gardens at the back - make sure the whole garden is yours as the pic shows it beyond the house divide, does the other house it is attached to have a smaller garden and this one's extends beyond it?
Are the agent or owners showing it to you? I'd ask about bills: how much annual running costs. How old is the boiler. It's oil fired so how much is that? Take a look at the electrics - does it look up to date or will it need rewiring? The decor is dated but the money will go on things you can't see. How old is the roof? Has it needed any work? The conservatory has what looks like a polycarbonate roof - a summer use room only. If you are thinking of extending ask if there are any restrictions or precedents in the area.
If you go for it get a full survey.
The room measurements aren't big and that's a small kitchen. I'd be looking at knocking down a few walls. The third bedroom is tiny. Definitely ask about the neighbours - for example if you have a young boisterous family and they are a quiet elderly couple...

Yes, the oil fired central heating does concern me, but it’s the third house I’ve wanted to view (haven’t actually views though) that is heated this way. Must be because the houses are all in rural locations - the house in the Op is on the top of a hill, with few other house around.
Seems I’ll never get the location, plus the house I want The oil tank is in a shed, but I’ll ask to see the condition of this when I view the property.

It’s a lovely house. I’d want to see records of bills for the oil deliveries to get an idea of heating costs.

So helpful, everyone! Need to think with my head and not my heart when I view it.
This property is for sale at the bottom of the hill - another nice road with good views, but gardens just don’t compare. I guess that the cost of this property is down to aesthetics www.findahomeonline.co.uk/properties/101292005578

The first one is much nicer even allowing for the dated interior. Once decorated, new kitchen, etc it could be amazing.

If the whole of the garden shown is yours, you'd have room for a ground source heat pump which would be a good investment if you're planning to stay there a while, so the oil heating would not be a consideration.

We've had oil fired heating for nearly 20 years. As long as you order a couple of weeks before you run out it's fine. The last oil we got - 3 weeks ago was 17p a litre. Cheapest it's ever been. In a rural location mains gas is usually not available!

The heating system would be a query from me. I would also explore the possibility of taking the wall down between the lounge and kitchen and making it a kitchen/diner and turning the dining room into the lounge so I would be asking if that was a supporting wall (from surveyor not owner obviously). Garden looks lovely.

Yes I believe the whole garden that is shown belongs to the property, as I’ve found photos of the land belonging to next door, and their land seems to expand to the side. www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=37950605&sale=5780698&country=england I’ll look into a ground source heat pump. This is why I came to Mumsnet - I wouldn’t have known any of these things.

Really useful to know Blueberrycreampie. Thank you

Ask how many hours it takes to mow the lawn, and find out if you can get a goat instead.

The internal stuff looks mostly cosmetic. The layout isn’t great though abd in an ideal works I’d move the kitchen into the conservatory and make that the family /dining area and make the current kitchen into a laundry room/utility

Don't be worried about oil CH. I've lived with it for 32 years and never had any issues. My last boiler lasted 30 years which no gas boiler would ever do.The price of oil fluctuates and it's currently cheaper than its been for over 25 years. Other than that you would never know the difference.

We have oil central heating too. Never had the slightest problem, and quite like that our heating for the next six months is paid for (especially as I’m just about to lose my job!). It’s sooo cheap at the moment too. Make sure that the tank is out of sight though. My neighbour had theirs stolen twice.

The house obviously needs a fair bit of doing up and modernising, but could be lovely. Ask if you could bring a builder for a look?

I honestly wouldn't worry about oil heating. Obviously when boiler reaches the end of its life you might want to consider an alternative but it really isn't a problem (grew up with it and now on my second home of my own heated this way). Other than the fact you have to make sure you get oil delivered there's really no difference and once you're in the habit it is no big deal. Can genuinely say I've never run out and never had any issue with strikes etc, nor have my parents.

You're welcome. Was a surprise to me ( that, and no mains waste) as a city girl.

Looking at the map it appears that it's quite rural. Is it on mains drainage or a septic tank? Is the water metered? What's the water pressure like (worth considering if you're updating/adding bathrooms)?

The first one has much more potential and IMHO much more kerb appeal. Second one has no downstairs toilet or second bathroom

Our neighbours had theirs stolen too; just after delivery! They had to fit an alarm.

Lovely house op.

Are you from that area / do you know it well already?

It's wonderful. All the interior work looks cosmetic rather than needing to be done in a rush.

Pipes
Electric wiring
Windows
Wall insulation etc
Oil costs and who supplies
Sewage is it covered by Severn Trent etc
Run the tap and make sure it gets hot