A first-time buyer's guide to touring homes

Touring your first home is exciting — but ten viewings in, it all blurs together. The wallpaper you loved in house three belongs to house five, and you cannot remember which kitchen had the broken drawer. A short checklist fixes that.

Bring this to every viewing

• Test the water pressure and flush every toilet.
• Open every window — sticking frames mean damp or subsidence.
• Visit the street once at night before you offer.
• Ask exactly what stays: appliances, curtains, the shed.
• Photograph each room so you can compare calmly at home.

Get pre-approved first

Sellers take pre-approved buyers seriously, and you will tour with a real budget instead of a hopeful one. Most importantly, look past the staging: fresh paint is cheap, but light, layout and location are not. If those three fit your life, the rest can be learned and improved.