Before buying a house in England, look beyond the listing photos. Early research can help you ask informed questions before committing to surveys and conveyancing. It cannot replace those professional checks.
1. Check the address and property details
Confirm you are researching the right home, especially for flats, conversions and similarly numbered properties. Check the recorded property type, floor area and tenure where available. An EPC floor area or public record may differ from a current measured survey.
2. Research sold prices and estimated value
Compare recorded sale prices for similar nearby homes. Consider size, condition, sale date and location. An asking price is not a completed sale price, and an automated estimate is not a formal valuation.
3. Understand the total buying costs
Budget for your deposit, applicable property tax, legal work, searches and a survey, alongside mortgage and moving costs. MoneyHelper says legal fees are usually about £2,000 including VAT, with searches typically another £250–£300. These are typical buying costs, not an estimate of money lost if a purchase fails.
MoneyHelper’s guide to buying and moving costs
4. Check planning applications and restrictions
Look at nearby planning applications and verify their status on the local authority’s planning register. A proposal is not approval, and approval does not mean construction will happen. Ask about listed-building status, conservation restrictions and documentation for previous alterations.
5. Investigate flood information and other risks
Read the coverage and date of any flood information and check the original source. A low-risk result is not a guarantee. Your solicitor and surveyor can advise on further searches and property-specific concerns.
6. Explore the neighbourhood
Research transport, schools, recorded crime, noise, amenities and connectivity. Visit at different times if possible. Area statistics describe an area, not the safety, noise level or broadband speed guaranteed at a particular house.
7. Read the EPC and ask about running costs
Check the certificate’s date and assumptions. Ask about heating, insulation and recent changes. Energy estimates are not a promise of your bills, which also depend on tariffs and how you use the home.
8. Take unanswered questions to professionals
Ask your solicitor about title, lease terms, service charges, ground rent, boundaries and legal rights. Ask your surveyor about condition and defects. Public-data checks cannot establish that a home is structurally sound or legally problem-free.
Start your research with CheckAHome
CheckAHome brings available property and area information together with potential concerns and questions to ask. A headline verdict is free, and the full report is £4.99. Coverage starts with England; the iPhone app is coming soon.
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