Before you go

  • Confirm the appointment, the exact meeting point and who will show you the property.
  • Ask for the property reference, the asking price or rent and what it includes, so you are not negotiating from scratch on site.
  • Check the route at the time of day you would normally travel. Traffic and road condition are part of the property.
  • Bring a charged phone, a tape measure, a notebook and, for land, a copy of the plot details you were given.

On site: the building

  • Walk the outside first. Look at the roof line, gutters, drainage, boundary wall and gate.
  • Inside, open every door and window and run every tap. Flush the toilets. Switch on every light.
  • Look at the ceiling corners and behind furniture for damp, cracks or fresh paint hiding a problem.
  • Ask how water and power are supplied, whether there is a tank or backup, and what happens during outages.
  • Photograph each room, the meters and any defect. Photographs settle later disagreements.

On site: land

  • Ask to be shown the beacons or boundary markers, then compare what you see with the plot details.
  • Note the slope, drainage and whether any part is wet or low-lying.
  • Confirm the access road: who owns it, whether it is public and whether it is passable in the rainy season.
  • Speak to neighbours if they are present. Ask who has been using the land and for how long.

Questions to ask the person showing you round

  1. Who is the owner, and are you the owner, an agent or a caretaker?
  2. Why is the property being sold or let now?
  3. Which documents exist for the property, and may I see them with the owner present?
  4. What is included in the price or rent?
  5. How long has it been on the market?
  6. What would the next step be if I am interested?

Red flags that should pause a decision

  • Pressure to pay a deposit or “commitment fee” on the day.
  • An owner who cannot be met or verified.
  • Documents that can only be shown as photographs on a phone.
  • Details that change between the advert, the message and the site.

After the viewing: write your notes while they are fresh, then ask Earth Trust for the current facts on anything that was unclear. A viewing enquiry can be started for any property shown on this website.