Viewing Property
What questions should I ask during a viewing?
Last reviewed: 3 October 2026
The brief answer
Ask why the owner is selling, how long the home has been on the market, whether there is a chain, the tenure, council tax band and energy rating, and what is included. Check for damp, the boiler, windows, roof and water pressure.
In plain English
Questions about the sale tell you about the seller's position: a long time on the market or price reductions may leave room to negotiate; a long chain may mean delays.
Questions about the property tell you about costs: tenure, service charges, council tax band and energy rating all affect running costs.
Use free official tools before you offer: the energy certificate register, the council tax band checker, the flood risk checker for England and Ofcom's mobile and broadband checker.
Why it matters
A viewing is your chance to spot issues before you spend money on legal work and surveys.
What to do next
- 1Use our viewing checklist on your phone.
- 2Book a second viewing at a different time of day.
- 3Run the free official checks.
Checklist
- Reason for sale
- Time on market and price reductions
- Chain
- Tenure
- Council tax band
- EPC rating
- What is included