Don’t be fooled by photos
“Always check for a timestamp on the photos, floor plan and virtual tour,” warned Lucy.
“Natural light in particular can create optical illusions, and often estate agents will use old photos and floor plans from years ago.
“You don’t want to be disappointed by agreeing to a purchase based on out of date pictures.”
You can also use other technology to get a good look at the outside and the surrounding street, too.
“It’s good to start your walk-through from the street, for instance using Google Maps in tandem with the virtual viewing, to get a sense of the property exterior too,” recommended Lucy.
Know your measurements
“One thing that often isn’t talked about is the scale of mismeasurement in the property sector, and you should always check that the measurement data provided in the floorplan is accurate,” Lucy advised.
“One way to get a sense for this is to look at who provides the floorplan – for example, is it provided by the estate agent or a third party?
“If the floorplan comes from the estate agent themselves, then there’s a chance that they might not be accurate or out of date.
“Check if the floorplan has been created by a RICS Certified Property Measurer, as this will provide the best indication of if the data is accurate.”