The Postcode BriefBuyer guide
Buyer guide
House buying checklist
Use this as a sequence rather than a box-ticking exercise. The order matters: research before viewing saves the most time.
Before you view
Run a Postcode Brief on the postcode. Skim sold prices, crime, flood, schools and transport. Note anything that needs a follow-up question at the viewing.
At the viewing
Ask about known issues (flooding, subsidence, neighbour disputes). Check mobile signal and broadband if you work from home. Look at the street at a different time of day if you can.
After the offer is accepted
Commission a survey appropriate to the property age and type. Re-read the briefing for planning applications and conservation constraints. Your solicitor will run searches, but knowing the headline risks early helps you read their report.
Common questions
- Is a Postcode Brief a substitute for a survey?
- No. It is open-data research to help you decide whether to view and what to ask. A survey inspects the building itself.