PropeteerProperty intelligence

Buyer guide

Questions to ask before making an offer

Ask questions that expose evidence gaps: what is included, what changed, which permissions exist, why the seller is moving, what defects or disputes are known and how the asking price was supported.

Written and reviewed by Propeteer Research TeamPublished Reviewed

At a glance

Key facts

Property
Tenure, boundaries, alterations and condition
Transaction
Chain, timescale, inclusions and seller position
Evidence
Permissions, guarantees, survey and comparable basis

A reliable process

How to approach the question.

  1. 01Research the public record before asking questions.
  2. 02Send a short property-specific list rather than a generic questionnaire.
  3. 03Record answers and the document said to support each answer.
  4. 04Route legal and physical matters to the conveyancer or surveyor.

Worked example

An unexplained extra bedroom

Ask when and how the room was created, whether the work altered the roof or structure and which approvals and completion documents exist. The answer helps target the survey and legal enquiries.

What this does not prove

  • Seller or agent answers should be verified where material.
  • Some information only emerges through formal enquiries.
  • An asking price explanation is not evidence of market value.

Method used

  • Start with the exact address and stable property identifiers so records for neighbouring or subdivided homes are not merged.
  • Separate open-data screening from formal conveyancing searches, surveys and professional opinions.
  • Record what was checked, when it was checked and whether the result means clear, no match, unavailable coverage or a failed connection.

Primary sources and official guidance

How to buy a homeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Source scope, licensing, refresh expectations and known limitations are listed in the public data-source register.

Related guides

Property due-diligence checklist

A practical checklist covering property identity, planning, valuation, survey, title, searches, environment, services and local context.

Property-data red flags

Spot identity conflicts, implausible sales, missing certificates, inconsistent property types, value outliers and false reassurance from no-data results.

Apply this guide

Start with the exact UK address.

Research a property