Second house viewing checklist for Derry buyers

By James Gorman

Go back with questions, not just a second impression

A second house viewing is your chance to test whether a Derry home fits your everyday needs and clear up questions from the first visit. Take a short written list, arrange enough time with the agent and explain any particular area you want to see again. It is a closer look, not a substitute for a survey.

Before the appointment, separate your notes into must-haves, unresolved concerns and preferences. That helps prevent an attractive kitchen from distracting you from a staircase you cannot manage, a bedroom that does not fit your furniture or an access arrangement you have not understood.

Test the layout against daily life

Bring essential furniture measurements and ask permission before measuring rooms. Check doors, circulation space, storage and how you would use the rooms, rather than relying only on the number of bedrooms. If you work from home, consider where a desk would go without blocking the normal route through the house.

Look at the practical arrival: carrying shopping, storing a pushchair, reaching the garden and moving between parking and the entrance. If accessibility matters, note specific obstacles and seek appropriate advice about any proposed alteration. Do not assume a wall can be removed or a driveway widened simply because that would improve the layout.

Revisit the outside and surroundings

If the first appointment was after dark, request a daylight visit. Look at the boundaries, outside storage and access from the areas you are permitted to enter. Ask which land and parking spaces are included. Leave ownership, rights of way and any boundary uncertainty for your solicitor to establish.

Try the journey that matters to you at an appropriate time, and check current transport information yourself. A quiet viewing does not tell you how a street feels throughout the week. Do not use the visit to photograph neighbours or enter adjoining land; keep the checks focused on the property you are considering.

Ask for evidence about costs and condition

Ask about the heating system, available service history, current EPC and any known work that needs attention. Note whether an answer is supported by a document or still needs checking. Ask permission before operating equipment and leave technical inspections to the appropriate professional.

For an apartment, request the available information about service charges, management arrangements and planned work, then have your solicitor review it. For a house, identify questions about shared access, drainage or outbuildings. A seller's account of their own costs may be useful background but is not a personalised budget for you.

The nidirect home-buying guide distinguishes the lender's valuation from a more detailed survey. Do not treat a good second viewing or an agreed mortgage valuation as confirmation that every defect has been checked.

Write down what is included

Ask about the items that matter to your plans, such as fitted appliances, curtains, garden storage or a particular light fitting. Keep proposed inclusions separate from an agreed contract. Our fixtures and fittings guide explains why a written list is useful.

Record any proposed work the seller mentions and whether it is a firm commitment or simply something being discussed. Tell the agent what you would want clarified before proceeding. Do not rely on a casual promise made in one room to resolve a point that needs to be documented through the solicitors.

Make the decision after the appointment

Review your notes away from the property. Mark each question answered, awaiting evidence or requiring professional advice. Consider the total move, not just the asking price: funding, fees, any necessary work and the timing of your own sale all need room in the decision.

Discuss outstanding questions with the agent before making commitments. Browse James Gorman Property's Derry homes if you are still comparing options. If you also need to sell, request a free valuation of your current home so both sides of the move can be planned.