So, the time has come to buy a house. It might be your first, or perhaps you’re looking for more space as your family grows. Whatever the reason, you’re probably wondering what questions to ask at a house viewing. You’re not alone; viewing a house is an important occasion that can seem difficult to navigate from the outset. This is particularly true when hoping to pounce on your dream home while it’s available, and in places such as Galway, Ireland’s fourth most populous city, demand for houses will always be high.
To help you get to grips with what to ask at a property viewing, our team of experienced estate agents at Long & Co. has come together to compile key questions. These will help you better understand the property and may even reveal whether a house could be your forever home.
House buying can be a turbulent process, but it’s also full of enjoyable aspects. For instance, deciding what you need in a home and where you would like to live gives you the opportunity to view a whole host of houses, an undertaking that in turn helps you nail down exactly what your dream home looks like.
Once you have that home in mind, do your research on the area, the property’s history and its recent sale prices, which can be found online. From there, what questions to ask when looking at a house will begin to emerge. These can include queries around the owner’s reason for selling, how long the property has been on the market and if there are any existing bids. Once you have an idea of what you would like to know, you can go ahead and book a viewing.
So, what questions to ask when viewing a house? There are many, of course, but not all are absolutely essential. Below, we’ve chosen five key questions to ask during a house viewing:
While an engineer’s report will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the house’s condition, a walk through will give you a good idea of what you’re investing in. For instance, there might be cracks up the walls or old cabinets in the kitchen. The windows might be single pane, and the gutters might be hanging down. All these things will play into your decisions, so really assess the property for yourself and ask the estate agent about its condition if you have concerns. They may also be aware of previous issues that are worth knowing from the outset.
What to ask and look for when viewing a house includes its structure. This can cover cracks, damp and infestations, as well as subsidence. The latter is an issue in Galway, where location intelligence software provider Gamma found that “15% of the county’s total buildings fall within a high-risk zone.” So, be sure to query this and if you notice any issues, raise your concerns with the estate agent.
Also, ask if the house is compliant with local building regulations. Houses built before a certain era, particularly those with extensions, may have been built without planning permission. This can cause trouble when trying to secure home insurance and down the line should you wish to sell.
When wondering what questions should I ask when viewing a house?, add utility bills to the list. Electrical and gas bills are standard, but homes in estates may also come with maintenance costs such as general upkeep or water treatment system costs. Try to get an idea of regular utility costs as these must be accounted for post-purchase.
Enquire as to whether the heating system is efficient and modern, too. A recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) report found that 91% of homes surveyed used electricity as their main source of heating. This is noteworthy as the electricity price per kWh has risen from roughly €18 in 2007 to just over €34 in 2024. So, make sure to check what heating system is in use.
When looking to buy a house in Galway, or anywhere else in Ireland, you will likely encounter the terms ‘freehold’ and ‘leasehold’. Simply put, freehold interest in a property means you own the building and land, whereas leasehold interest means you only own the building. However, you can negotiate to rent the surrounding land from its owner.
These terms are important and so too is the need to clarify what’s for sale when you meet the estate agent. For instance, there may be boundary disputes or shared access issues that could lead to complications, while it’s also unlikely you want to get involved in such disputes. So, when wondering what to ask an estate agent when viewing a house, add ownership and boundary checks to the list.
While you have the chance, ask the estate agent about the local area. Are there schools, parks, shops, gyms and other amenities you want to have nearby. Are there housing developments springing up or businesses closing down? Furthermore, ask the estate agent about public transport as this is important for work, school and general outings.
While you will get to know them in time, ask the agent about the neighbours and broader estate. Also ask about crime in the area as it can affect the value of the house now and in the future.
When you first walk into a house, having seen it online and waited patiently for the chance to view it, you might rush through your viewing and give everything a quick look over. This isn’t ideal as you may miss faults such as damp, cracks or poor maintenance, especially if the house is still furnished.
Try to slow down and take note of any issues as well as natural light, room sizes, storage and the overall feel you get. While you can arrange a second viewing, it could be a few weeks before you get that opportunity.
Having viewed a house, you will no doubt head home and take stock of what you’ve seen. If a particular house piques your interest, there are follow-up questions you might want to ask.
For instance, you might want to know when the boiler was last serviced or how old the house’s wiring is. You might want to know if the seller has a move out date in mind, and there might be questions to follow up on that the estate agent couldn’t answer on the day.
Another post-viewing question is to ask about the home’s Building Energy Rating (BER) Cert. This certificate is required when selling a house and sets out its energy performance on a scale between A and G, with A being the most energy efficient. Aside from its necessity, a BER Cert will give you an idea of how well the house retains heat and how much your energy bill may be.
At Long & Co., we know that a assessing a house can seem like a daunting task, which is why we’ve offered our advice on what to ask at a house viewing in this article.
When checking out a house that you’re thinking of buying, try to balance your emotions with logical decision making. Consider your needs, the maintenance the home will need and whether or not you’re being led by a desire to close a deal quickly. And remember, no question is too small when making a major investment.
If you would like further guidance on what to ask when viewing a house to buy, or to see what properties in Galway we have on offer, simply contact us or complete a viewing form today and an experienced member of our team will be happy to help.
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