What to check when you visit a cheap house: a 20-point checklist

Roof, damp, water, power, access, paperwork: the things that turn a cheap house into an expensive one, and how to check them in one visit.

RealHunt Research ·

Most cheap houses are cheap because of something you can see on a visit, if you know where to look. Take this list with you, or send it to the person who visits for you.

Outside

  1. Roof: missing or slipped tiles, sagging lines, stains on the ceiling below.
  2. Walls: cracks wider than a coin, especially diagonal ones from window corners.
  3. Damp: a white salt line or flaking paint at the bottom of walls.
  4. Drainage: where rain water goes, and whether the ground slopes toward the house.
  5. Access: can a car or a van reach the door all year? Who owns the track?
  6. Boundaries: does the plot on the ground match the plot on the cadastral map?

Inside

  1. Smell: a musty smell means damp, even if the walls were just painted.
  2. Electricity: age of the fuse box, earthing, whether the supply is connected or cut off.
  3. Water: mains, well or tank; pressure at the top tap; hot water.
  4. Waste water: mains sewer or septic tank, and whether the tank meets current rules.
  5. Heating: what kind, what it costs a winter, and whether the chimney works.
  6. Windows: single or double glazing, rot in wooden frames.
  7. Floors: soft spots, slopes, woodworm holes in beams.
  8. Kitchen and bathroom: usable now, or a full rebuild?

Around

  1. Phone signal and internet: test it in the house, not in the village square.
  2. Noise: visit once on a weekday and once in the evening if you can.
  3. Neighbours: empty houses next door can mean damp or structural problems shared through walls.
  4. Services: nearest shop, doctor and pharmacy, and how long the drive is in winter.

Paperwork

  1. The registry extract matches the house you saw: rooms, size, outbuildings. Unregistered extensions can be a problem when you sell.
  2. Energy certificate, and any pending local taxes or community fees.

If several of these need work, get a quote before you make an offer: it is your best argument for a lower price. RealHunt's help buying page lists local surveyors and lawyers.

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