Begin outside and across the road
Pause before going in. Look at the roof line, chimney, gutters, external walls, windows and the way the ground falls around the building. Stand far enough away to see the whole elevation. Missing roof tiles, overflowing gutters and badly cracked render are easier to notice from the opposite pavement.
Look along neighbouring houses for comparison. If one roof or extension is different, ask when it was changed. Notice traffic, parking, overhead cables, large trees and nearby commercial activity. None of these automatically makes the house unsuitable, but they belong in the decision.
If the seller conducts the viewing, ask ordinary factual questions and give them room to answer. They may know when the roof leaked, which room is cold or why a cupboard is locked. Record the answer and let the legal paperwork confirm anything important.
Use every room rather than standing in the doorway
Walk to the windows and look back towards the door. Furniture can make a room seem larger or hide damaged surfaces. Check whether your bed, table or sofa would leave sensible routes through the room. A floor plan helps, but confirm important dimensions yourself.
Open fitted cupboards with permission. Look beneath sinks and around shower trays for staining or swollen boards. Try doors and windows. A sticking door can be a minor adjustment, moisture or movement; note where it happens and ask your surveyor to consider the pattern.
Notice water, heating and electrics
Run taps long enough to see the flow and whether water drains away. Ask where the stopcock, boiler, consumer unit and meters are. Look for the boiler service record and the age of equipment, but do not treat a recent service as proof that an old system will last for years.
Count sockets where you would need them and glance at the consumer unit. A survey is not an electrical test. If the installation looks altered, dated or important to your decision, budget for an electrician's inspection before exchange.
Check mobile signal inside the rooms where it matters. Thick stone walls, foil-backed insulation and the exact position of the house can produce weak coverage despite a favourable area map. This is particularly relevant if mobile data is your backup for home working.
Smells and surfaces can reveal useful clues
A strong air freshener, open windows on a cold day or heating turned unusually high may have an innocent explanation. Still notice musty rooms, damp cupboards and staining around ceilings, chimney breasts and lower walls. Touching or using a moisture meter yourself will not diagnose the cause.
Look at floors near baths, toilets and external doors. Springiness, unevenness or new finishes in one small area deserve a question. Fresh decoration is pleasant, but ask what prompted it and whether invoices or photographs exist for recent repairs.
Ask about alterations and shared responsibilities
Extensions, loft rooms, removed walls and converted garages should be mentioned to your conveyancer and surveyor. Ask when the work was done and what paperwork is available. Do not accept “it has always been like that” as a reason to ignore an obvious alteration.
For flats, identify shared entrances, roofs, gardens, parking and storage. Ask who manages the building and whether neighbours have discussed expensive work. The appearance of the communal areas can give some indication of how promptly maintenance is handled.
After leaving, draw the layout from memory. The exercise quickly reveals spaces you did not properly understand, such as access through one bedroom to another area. Compare your sketch with the floor plan and ask about any difference at the second visit.
Leave with a list of facts still needed
Ask why the owners are moving, how long they have lived there and what is included in the sale. Find out about the chain, likely timetable and any previous sale that did not proceed. The agent may not know every answer, so mark uncertain points for your solicitor or surveyor.
Do not negotiate against yourself during the viewing. Thank the seller or agent, step outside and compare what you saw with your requirements. If the property remains a possibility, arrange a second visit with fewer distractions and better questions.