Home Viewing Checklist: What Should You Look For?

Viewing your dream property is a unique experience. After all, it is your potential new home that will be with you for many years. To prepare for this appointment in the best possible way, you should take a close look at the property and its location and surroundings in advance. This will help you to focus on certain features during the viewing and to better sort your impressions.

Before the viewing:

• Request a property description with important information (year of construction, floor plan, living space, energy efficiency class)
• Pay particular attention to the energy performance certificate
• Note down any questions about the area (local transport, shopping facilities, sources of noise)

During the viewing:

• Use a checklist for the exterior of the house
• Use checklist for the interior of the house
• Note checklist for the property
• Check energy efficiency

After viewing the house:

• Arrange another viewing appointment
• Obtain additional information (right of first refusal, land registry extract, consult an expert)

The most important information before the viewing: What should you know?

In advance of your actual viewing appointment, you should receive a summary with the most important information about the property. The following information should be included:

• Year of construction of the property
• Floor plan
• Living space in square meters
• Energy efficiency class of the property (energy performance certificate)

If the exposé is not already available, request it directly from the seller or the responsible real estate agent. The energy performance certificate is particularly important for estimating future renovation obligations and taking advantage of potential financing offers for particularly energy-efficient properties. The seller or real estate agent should provide you with the energy certificate at the latest when you view the property. It is also important to get a comprehensive picture of the area around the property. Pay attention to important aspects such as:

• Connection to local and long-distance transport
• Proximity to shopping facilities
• Possible sources of noise

Write down any questions that arise to clarify them when you view the property.

What should I look out for during the house viewing?

A house viewing can be overwhelming and cause you to quickly overlook small details. To help you with your next house viewing, we have put together a checklist of all the important things to look out for.

Checklist for the exterior of the house:

• When was the house built?
• What modernization measures have been carried out so far?
• Are the roof and windows in good condition?
• Does the front door meet modern standards?
• Are there any signs of mold or moisture?
• Does the building make a good impression?

Checklist for the interior of the house:

• Is there enough living space?
• What is the condition of the floor?
• How high are the ceilings?
• Does the bathroom meet your requirements?
• Is the electrical system in good condition?
• Is the basement dry? Is there any sign of damp or mold?
• Is the kitchen in the style you want?
• Are there enough sockets? Where are they positioned?
• What condition are the water pipes in?
• Are there any damp spots or mold?
• How is the hot water heated? Is there enough storage capacity?
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Checklist for the property:

• How high is the groundwater level?
• Are parking spaces available? If so, which ones?
• Are there any road construction costs?

Energy efficiency checklist:

• How is the heating system?
• What kind of windows are installed?
• How is the house insulated?
• Are renewable energies used?

What should I bring to the house inspection?

To make sure you don't miss anything during the house inspection, a notebook, pen and a folding rule are essential. And don't forget your checklist, so that you have an overview of your questions and can tick them off later as you answer them.

What happens after the house inspection:

If you are interested in the property, it is advisable to arrange another viewing appointment before buying the property. In the meantime, you can already obtain additional information to be well prepared:

• Get a 14-day right of first refusal and use the time to clarify any open questions and the financing.
• Request an up-to-date land registry extract to check the ownership structure and see if there are any possible encumbrances on the property. These should be taken into account when calculating the price.
• Take an expert with you to the second viewing to help you find any hidden defects.

Checklist for viewing a condominium:

When you buy a condominium, you become part of a community of owners, which, in contrast to buying a house, entails special rules for condominium owners.

You should pay attention to the following when viewing the property:

• Is there a party in the community of owners that represents the majority?
• How high are the maintenance reserves?
• Have any renovation projects already been decided that will burden the maintenance reserves?

What documents should you look at if you are interested in the apartment?

If you are seriously interested in buying the condominium, you should take a closer look at the following documents:

• The minutes of the owners' meetings for the last 3 years
• The collection of resolutions of the owners' meeting
• The register of public easements
• Declaration of division together with the division plan