Use this checklist before making an offer on any property. The data checks take 30–45 minutes. The site visit takes a few hours. Together they can save you from buying into the wrong area — or help you buy confidently into the right one.
Online Data Checks
House Prices
- Look up the postcode district’s current average price on Postcode.Page — is it what you expected?
- Check the 1-year price change — rising, flat, or falling?
- Check the 5-year history — consistent growth, volatility, or a recent peak?
- Check price by property type — how does your target type sit vs the average?
- Look up the specific postcode sector for micro-level price context
Crime
- Check the district’s crime rate per 1,000 residents vs the national average
- Look at the crime breakdown — burglary and vehicle crime are most relevant to homeowners
- Check whether there is a 12-month trend (rising or falling)
Schools
- Count Outstanding schools in the district — are there any?
- Check the % Good/Outstanding — above 70% is solid, above 85% is strong
- For specific schools, check inspection date — ratings older than 5 years are less reliable
- Verify catchment areas with the local authority admissions portal
Council Tax
- Find the Band D rate for the local authority on Postcode.Page
- Identify the band of the specific property via VOA
- Calculate the actual annual bill (band fraction × Band D rate)
- Compare to your current bill if moving from another area
Broadband
- Check the district’s average download speed and full-fibre coverage % on Postcode.Page
- Run a property-level check with Openreach or your preferred ISP
- If working from home, verify minimum speed for video calls (30 Mbps+)
Other Checks
- Check flood risk at check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk
- Check planning applications near the property via the local authority planning portal
- Check Rightmove/Zoopla history — how many times has this property been listed?
Comparing Areas
- If deciding between two districts, use the Postcode.Page comparison tool
- Weight factors based on your priorities (schools, crime, price trend, commute)
- Check total cost of ownership: mortgage + council tax + commute costs for each area
Site Visit Checklist
Timing
- Visit on a weekday during commuting hours (7–9am or 5–7pm)
- Visit on a Friday or Saturday evening
- Visit on a Sunday morning
Street
- Condition of neighbouring properties (gardens, paintwork, windows)
- Parking availability at different times
- Traffic noise levels
- Proximity to HGV routes, railways, flight paths
- Any unusual smells or noise sources
Neighbourhood
- Quality of local high street / shops
- Nearest GP surgery and dentist
- Parks and green space
- Pubs, cafés, restaurants — are they busy?
- Demographic feel — does it match what you are looking for?
Questions to Ask the Estate Agent
- Why is the vendor selling?
- How long has the property been on the market? Has the price been reduced?
- Have any offers previously fallen through, and why?
- What is the council tax band?
- When was the boiler last serviced?
- Has the property ever flooded or had damp issues?
- What are the parking arrangements?
- Are there any known disputes with neighbours?
Legal and Financial Checks (via Solicitor)
- Local authority search (planning, highways, drainage)
- Environmental search (contamination, flooding, subsidence)
- Drainage and water search
- Title deeds and boundaries
- For leasehold: remaining lease length, service charge history, ground rent terms
- For shared ownership: staircasing terms, restrictions
The data checks in this checklist are available free for every postcode district in England at Postcode.Page. Start by searching your target postcode →.