Scope: UK-wide planning guide. Practical considerations to adapt to your own home and circumstances.
Start with the sale itself
Ask why the property is being marketed, how long it has been available and whether the seller has a preferred timetable. Ask whether there is an onward purchase and what is known about that position. Treat this as context rather than a guarantee that the move will happen on a particular date.
Ask about the building and its history
- What changes have been made to the property?
- Are documents available for relevant alterations or guarantees?
- What is included in the sale?
- Are any areas, entrances or services shared?
- What questions have previous viewers raised?
An agent may not know every answer immediately. Request that outstanding points be checked with the seller, then keep a record of the response. A confident verbal answer should not replace documentary checks where the issue matters to your purchase.
Make the costs visible
If the home has shared management or communal facilities, ask what charges apply and which documents can be supplied. If parking or storage is advertised, ask exactly what arrangement provides it. Ownership, permission to use a space and informal custom are different things; your legal adviser should establish the relevant position.
Finish with a clear next step
Ask how offers should be submitted and what information the seller wants to consider. Explain any real conditions or timing constraints in your position. Do not promise flexibility that you do not have simply to sound more attractive. After the conversation, send a concise list of unresolved questions through the normal contact channel. Separate questions for the agent from issues for your surveyor, mortgage adviser or conveyancer. This keeps the process useful without asking one person to provide expertise outside their role.