Write down what matters before leaving
A quiet bedroom, reasonable commute or workspace: choose three needs you will not abandon. Reread the listing and note questions. Does the advertised area include the attic? Is the garden private? Request available documents before visiting so you have more time to inspect the property.
Take time over details
Open windows with your host’s permission. Listen to the street. Inspect wall corners, ceilings and window surrounds. A mark deserves a question, not an improvised diagnosis. If something worries you, photograph it with permission and arrange a second visit with someone qualified.
Prepare your next step: Read a property file with a notebook of questions
Ask for answers you can find again
“Everything was redone” is vague. Ask which work, when and with what supporting documents. For a flat, request available information on charges and communal work. Clarify who occupies the property and when it could become available. Keep important answers in writing.
Review before the next viewing
Immediately afterwards, note what you like, dislike and still need to check. Memories of multiple visits quickly merge. You can love a property and still need further checks. Keep both thoughts in mind before deciding.
Follow a simple viewing order
Start outside, then communal areas, living spaces, technical rooms and ancillary spaces. Keep a few minutes for questions. Ask permission for photographs and attach a short note: room, location and issue. A context-free ceiling photograph quickly becomes useless. Bring a tape measure for important furniture without trying to certify the home’s total area. If accompanied, divide tasks so someone listens while someone observes.
Consider use, not just finishes
Imagine arriving with shopping, storing bicycles, drying washing and working from home. Test permitted openings, locate sockets and note narrow passages. A recent kitchen may lack storage; a small bedroom may suit your needs perfectly. For a flat, ask about access, bins and deliveries. Such details may be absent from the listing yet affect daily comfort.
Arrange a focused second visit
The first viewing often establishes whether a property merits investigation. The second should resolve questions. Return at another time if possible, bringing received documents. If planning work, have relevant items examined by a professional with the seller’s consent. Do not ask for a global price from a few photographs: explain what you want changed and retained. Finish with a short list of outstanding answers rather than a vague impression that is hard to compare.