Before you go
Write down three non-negotiables and three preferences. Choose them around your real routine: space to work, storage, stairs, outdoor access or the journeys you make regularly. This keeps the search personal without turning every attractive feature into a requirement.
During the viewing
- Walk the rooms in the order you would use them on a normal morning.
- Check whether your main furniture and storage needs would fit.
- Notice access, stairs, light and sounds; note what a short visit cannot establish.
- Ask which features, uses or changes need document confirmation.
- Record concerns to discuss with your representative or inspector.
Outside the front door
Try the routes you actually use at a relevant time of day. Check the exact address against official school, transport and municipal resources where those details matter to your decision. A nearby park or school does not by itself establish access, eligibility, catchment or travel time.
After the viewing
Use three headings: works for me, needs checking and does not fit. Keep unconfirmed answers in the middle column. Then compare your notes with the next property using the same questions.
A second visit can answer a different set of questions. It does not replace inspections, document review or other appropriate due diligence.
A useful question to bring back
“If we removed the staging and imagined a rainy weekday here, would this still work for us?” There is no right answer for everyone. The purpose is to make your priorities easier to see.
Further reading: BCFSA: The Search. Source checked October 26, 2026.
General education, not legal, tax or mortgage advice. Property details and individual circumstances matter. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate professional before acting.