Questions to ask an estate agent when buying a house

Ask whether the seller has found their next home, whether there is an onward chain and which dates matter to them. This helps you understand how your circumstances fit the transaction. Treat any expected completion date as provisional.

Ask how long the property has been marketed, whether the asking price has changed and whether a previous sale fell through. If it did, ask what explanation and supporting information can be shared. A failed sale does not by itself establish a defect.

• What is the seller’s preferred timescale?
• Is there an onward purchase or another dependency?
• Have previous buyers commissioned reports the seller can share?
• Which answers have been confirmed by the seller?

Clarify the exact property being sold. A driveway, storage area or garden visible at the viewing may need a separate ownership or access check. Ask for the position to be confirmed through the legal process.

For extensions, loft conversions or other works, ask when they were done and which records are available. Planning permission and building-regulations evidence serve different purposes; do not assume one document answers every question.

• Which fixtures, outbuildings and parking arrangements are included?
• What major work has been carried out, and when?
• Are guarantees, approvals and service records available?
• Are there known ongoing repairs or shared maintenance arrangements?

Ask which completed sales the agent used and how those homes compare in size, condition and location. Nearby listings show competition; completed sales show recorded transactions. Neither is a perfect substitute for an inspection of the home you want.

If a comparable looks stronger or weaker, ask for the reason. A renovated house on a quieter street may be a poor benchmark for one needing work beside a busy road. Keep a written comparison instead of relying on a single headline average.

Group your questions by topic and ask for missing documents rather than repeating a long general checklist. Example: “You mentioned the loft conversion was completed in 2019. Please confirm which approval and completion documents the seller holds.”

Keep the answer, its date and who supplied it. Give material unresolved points to the appropriate professional. The agent can gather information, but that does not replace your own survey or your conveyancer’s verification of legal matters.

This guide combines practical research suggestions with the official services below. It is general information; property-specific survey, valuation and legal questions need the appropriate professional.

• GOV.UK: buying a home

Read how SashMark handles sources, matching and missing evidence.