Before travelling to see a property, buyers can make a short written enquiry to the agent and rule out some unsuitable homes without leaving their desk. The questions below concern information that may reasonably influence whether a viewing is worthwhile. Not every report will already exist and some answers will need checking later by a solicitor, surveyor or specialist; the point is to establish what is known before time and money are spent travelling.
Before booking a viewing: the LCM buyer checklist
Mark each point as you go: Clear when the answer satisfies you, Concern when it raises a doubt. Then copy a ready-made email to the agent containing only the questions you still need answered. Your choices stay on this page and are never sent to LCM.
- 01Photos
Ask whether any photographs have been AI-generated, virtually staged or digitally altered. Were furniture, fixtures, defects or external features removed? Request current, unedited photographs of the same rooms before arranging the appointment.
- 02Photo date and inclusions
Check when the photographs were taken and whether the rooms still look the same. Ask what furniture, appliances and fixed items are actually included, and whether any building work has taken place since the pictures were made.
- 03Floorplan
Request a floorplan with room dimensions. Compare doorways, windows, chimney breasts, radiators and alcoves with the photographs, particularly if wide-angle images make the rooms appear unusually spacious.
- 04Known defects
Ask about known damp, water ingress, cracking, movement, roof problems and previous flooding. If repairs have been carried out, ask what work was done and whether inspection reports, guarantees or relevant records are available.
- 05Surveys and reports
Ask if the seller has an existing condition survey or specialist report that can be shared. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a seller is not generally required to commission a home survey; buyers should arrange an appropriate independent survey before committing to a purchase. In Scotland, ask for the seller's Home Report.
- 06Energy (EPC)
Request the property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), check the rating and ask about heating, glazing and likely running costs. An EPC records energy performance; it is not a condition survey.
- 07Tenure
Confirm whether the property is freehold, leasehold or another form of tenure. For leasehold homes, ask how many years remain, what ground rent and service charges apply, and whether charges have risen or major works are planned.
- 08Flats: cladding and fire safety
For flats, ask whether cladding, external wall, fire-safety or other remediation works are known or planned, what documents are available, and whether owners may face associated costs. These points need proper checking by the buyer's conveyancer and relevant specialists.
- 09Alterations
Ask whether extensions, loft conversions, removed walls or other substantial alterations have been carried out. Request the available planning permissions, building-control completion records and guarantees, then have their significance checked during conveyancing.
- 10Location and surroundingsYour own check
Check the property's location and surroundings independently. Look up the area's long-term flood risk, nearby planning applications and transport or construction activity that could affect noise, access, daylight or outlook.
- 11Access and parking
Confirm the correct address, floor level, access arrangements and parking position. Ask about lifts, stairs and any restrictions that would make the property unsuitable before travelling across London.
- 12Sale position
Ask how long the property has been marketed, whether offers have been received, whether there is an onward chain and when the seller hopes to move. This helps assess whether the property fits your timetable.
- 13Keep a recordYour own check
Keep a dated copy of the advert, its images and floorplan, and ask the agent to confirm important answers by email. If material questions remain unanswered, decide whether a journey is worthwhile rather than assuming the listing tells the whole story.
Some of these checks can be made without asking the agent. The official EPC register provides existing energy certificates; the Environment Agency publishes an area-level flood-risk service for England, which does not determine the flood risk of an individual home. The government's How to buy a home guide covers enquiries before an offer, while RICS explains when and how to arrange an independent home survey.
The questions need not become a lengthy interrogation. A short, courteous email asking for the unedited photographs, any known condition concerns and the basic property documents is a reasonable starting point. If the answers match the advert and the home still meets the buyer's requirements, the next step is a viewing, followed by independent checks before making a binding commitment. Photographs help decide whether a property is worth seeing; they should never replace seeing it.
This checklist is general information to help plan enquiries. It is not legal, survey or financial advice; confirm important points with a conveyancer, surveyor or relevant specialist.