A property viewing is most useful when you leave with a list of answers and evidence, not just a feeling about the finishes. Ask the same core questions at each home so the comparison stays fair.
This worksheet distinguishes what you can observe, what a seller or agent says and what still needs documentary confirmation.
Start with the actual unit
Record the exact building, floor, unit, layout and parking allocation. Walk through every room. Test doors, windows, taps, supplied appliances and cooling if the unit is ready and access permits it. Note visible water marks, noise and storage.
Visit at a time relevant to your life. A quiet midday viewing does not establish evening noise or the morning school route.
Ask for the running cost evidence
For an apartment or managed community, ask for the most recent service charge statement for that specific unit and what it covers. ADREC identifies community management and service charge compliance as regulatory matters. The building statement, not a generic annual rate, is the practical document to compare.
Ask whether cooling, parking and utility accounts are separately billed. For a villa, ask which maintenance tasks sit with the owner and whether any shared community charges apply. Do not assume a low shared charge means low upkeep.
Put answers in three columns
| Question | What you saw or were told | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| What is included? | Fixtures, appliances and parking | Written unit schedule or sale documents |
| What does it cost to run? | Service charge and cooling explanation | Current statement and provider information |
| What is the condition? | Visible defects or recent work | Inspection record and relevant invoices |
| What is around it? | Empty plot, road or shared facility | Current plot or project plan where available |
| What is the timetable? | Move in or handover claim | Dated project or transaction documents |
If the answer is unknown, mark it unknown. A confident verbal answer is not documentary verification.
Compare like with like
Use ADREC's market data for dated area context, recording the period, property type and measure you selected. A district median is not a valuation of the viewed home. Compare the actual unit with similar homes in the same practical market, including size, condition and rights.
For an off plan purchase, a showroom model does not permit a condition inspection of the future unit. Focus on the unit schedule, floor plan, project phase and stated inclusions instead. Ask which information is illustrative and which documents form part of the transaction.
Finish with a decision list
Before making an offer, sort the remaining questions into essential, negotiable and informational. Get essential answers in writing. If the identity, documents or material terms remain uncertain, keep the property on hold.
Use Knownable's area guides for wider location context. The next decision should turn on the specific home and its evidence.