When you buy a house, you want to make sure that you have as much information as possible before you make your decision, mainly focusing on the property itself as well as the surrounding area. The best opportunity to gather this information is during your house viewings, especially if you have an estate agent or property agent present.
That said, we understand that buying a home can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first, and you may not know exactly what to ask and when. The important thing to remember is that property professionals are legally obligated to tell you the truth at this point, so going in with a range of questions prepared can be the difference between your dream home or a potential bad choice.
To make things easier for you, we’ve broken down the questions you should ask when viewing a house and why they’re useful.
12 Top House Viewing Questions in 2026
Whether you’re buying your first home, or simply moving home, here’s some of the core questions to ask when buying a house:
1. How long has the property been on the market?
This is a great starter question as it opens up a range of potential follow-up questions which can give you some incredibly useful insights. For example, if the house has been on the market for a long time, usually more than three months, then you may want to ask the estate agent why they think it isn’t selling. This could be down to hidden problems that other people worked out further down the line or it could be as simple as the price being too high. Regardless of the answer that you get back, a property that isn’t selling may mean that you can haggle the seller down on the price.
2. What is the minimum price the seller would accept?
It’s always a good idea to ask about minimum sale prices as it not only saves you time but also ensures that you’re staying within your budget, a key consideration during a house purchase. In most cases, the minimum price is the sale price you initially see but it’s worth asking the question as it could lead to you saving thousands. At the same time, it’s in the estate agent’s interest to make the sale so they’ll often provide some insight into any potential negotiations that could be made.
3. Why is the owner selling and have they found a new home?
Probably one of the most important questions to ask is why the owner is looking to sell, and as a follow up, whether they have a new home in place. Understanding the seller’s circumstances can help you when you’re negotiating the price, especially if they’re moving away for work and desperate to sell quickly. Likewise, understanding what they have in the pipeline can be an indicator of how long it may take for the sale to go through, since you may have to wait while they find something.
4. What is the local area like?
This is a common question that most people know to ask but it bears repeating, understanding the local area including nearby transport links, crime rates and school catchment areas is key when you’re thinking of buying. We have plenty of local area guides that offer this information, which you can supplement your research with once you have a few potential buying locations. During this time you may also want to ask about major renovations taking place in the area, as this not only provides amenities for buyers but offers the potential for rising property values further down the line.
5. What are the neighbours like?
This is a question you can ask both the estate agent and the seller, if you get the chance. Noisy neighbours aren’t something you can usually see during a short property viewing but asking the seller and getting their feedback is much easier. Something to remember is that if a seller has lodged a legal complaint regarding neighbours, this is something that has to be disclosed prior to sale.
6. Have any major renovations been made to the property?
It’s important to check that any major renovations performed on the property were done so within the relevant planning and building regulations, as this could lead to issues further down the line. While you can always ask the estate agent these questions, you can also do your own research online by searching local council websites for any granted planning applications. At the same time, the surveys you get done when you decide to buy will usually offer some extra reassurance during the process.
7. What’s included in the sale of the home?
When you come to buy, it’s worth asking the seller or estate agent what is included within the home. Common things usually include garden sheds and the various fixtures and fittings throughout the home, although the estate agent is obliged to give you further details of any material possessions that may be included within the purchase. This can also be a good time to ask where the boundaries of the property lie and who is responsible for certain aspects such as lawns or fences.
8. How much is the council tax and utilities?
This is a much more common question as we experience a cost of living crisis and for good reason, council tax bands can vary massively from street to street. The council tax band is usually included within the property listing but if for some reason it isn’t, now is the time to ask. Similarly, you’ll usually get some indication around the utility bill from your conveyancing solicitor during the process. Take the time to ask about energy efficient features, such as air source heat pumps or solar panels, as this will obviously impact your finances when you’re living in the property.
9. How is the water pressure / water quality?
Something you may be interested in is the strength of the water and its overall quality. Water hardness can vary from region to region and while it isn’t a health risk, it can impact the efficiency of your kitchen appliances due to limescale.
10. How old is the property and is it in a conservation area?
If you’re buying through shared ownership, houses are usually brand new, which is one of the major benefits of the programme. If you’re buying outright or an older shared ownership property, however, you may want to ask how old it is as upkeep can be more expensive on older houses. It can also be worth asking about conservation areas, as this can result in restrictions on what you can do externally.
11. How is the broadband / signal in the area and property?
This is a much more common question in the current property market, especially if you regularly work from home or have multiple people using devices on the network. It’s always a good idea to ask the agent about the strength of the signal in the area and back that up with some of your own research, the OFCOM coverage checker can help and acts as an independent resource.
12. How much interest in the property has the agent received?
While estate agents usually won’t disclose the various offers they’ve received, or the amounts that have been offered, they may be able to insinuate the level of interest the property has received, which may dictate how quickly you want to move with the purchase. It’s always worth asking this question just to get an idea of how popular the property might be and how much you may have to put down in the future.
