A property viewing should answer questions that listing photos cannot.
Take notes. If you view several properties in one weekend, details blur quickly.
Outside the property
Before going through the gate, check:
- road surface
- drainage
- noise
- nearby land uses
- public transport
- street lighting
- obvious flooding or erosion
- access for delivery and emergency vehicles
Visit the area at a second time of day if the property is a serious candidate.
Water
Ask what the actual water source is.
Then check:
- storage capacity
- pressure
- rationing
- borehole or utility connection
- whether water charges are separate
Turn on taps rather than relying on the agent’s description.
Electricity
Confirm that power is connected and that the meter arrangement matches what you are buying or renting.
For apartments and rental compounds, ask whether units have individual meters.
Building condition
Look for:
- cracks
- damp
- roof leaks
- damaged ceilings
- poorly closing windows and doors
- plumbing leaks
- loose tiles
- drainage smells
- signs of recent patching
A fresh coat of paint can hide defects without fixing them.
Parking and circulation
Count the actual parking spaces.
For apartments, ask whether a bay belongs to the unit, is allocated informally or forms part of common property.
Documents are a separate check
Do not let a good viewing replace legal due diligence.
The physical property and the registered property both need to match the deal.
Use our property due diligence checklist before committing the balance of the purchase price.
Questions to ask before leaving
Write down:
- Why is the owner selling?
- How long has the property been on the market?
- What is included in the price?
- Are there service charges?
- What repairs have been done recently?
- What utilities are connected?
- When can possession be given?
The point of a viewing is not to decide whether the property looks good. It is to find out what living in or owning it will actually involve.