Pinning down an ideal first home is like dating. It can be love at first sight, involves online chit-chat, grainy photographs, pre-arranged meetings and a life-changing decision.

And like finding true romance, it takes several attempts. Research shows most buyers complete eight viewings before finding their dream home, although a third of buyers are much less fussy and only look at three.

Before you leap into the house hunting game, here’s some of the questions to ask both the agent and yourself during the viewing. Or should we say the date.

How long has the property been on the market?

There is a rule of thumb that says if a home hasn’t sold after six weeks then the asking price needs to drop.

Find out how long the property being viewed has been for sale. Too long and it’s probably overpriced, so either walk away or put a cheeky offer in.

Why are they selling up?

A vendor in a hurry is more likely to take a substantially lower offer than their asking price. Put bluntly, if they are keen to sell as fast as possible due to divorce, relocation or a baby about to be born, for example then the buyer has the upper hand.

Have they had any offers yet?

This is an essential question. If they admit there is an offer already on the table, and you’re keen to buy the property, then ask how much the other offer is - because an auction-style bidding war is about to start.

But these can be dangerous - two buyers very keen to purchase a property may push up the final price paid for it beyond the real market value.

Are they part of a chain?

The ideal property for buyers is one that’s not in a chain. These can be landlords selling a rental property, someone offloading a holiday home or moving overseas.

Property buying chains should ideally be avoided because a link in the chain can break and then all the sales taking place below and above it break too - or are severely delayed.

What’s being included in with the sale?

It’s normal for sellers to take everything bar the kitchen sink with them, but some are happy to include white goods, curtains and some light fittings in the price so it’s worth asking, particularly if you are a first time buyer with not much to your name.

Do they get on with the neighbours?

It is a legal requirement that during the conveyancing process the seller must reveals if there any problems with their neighbours, particularly if it includes anti-social behaviour. So, it’s worth finding out early on before (the expensive) conveyancing process starts.

Have they done any work to the property?

If there’s an extension at the back or a new dormer in the roof then ask if they received planning permission and/or building control sign off for them.

But it is not unusual to discover that work not covered by Permitted Development Rights rules is missing an official green light. Until that has been secured, the property is unsaleable.

How long have they lived in the property?

The longer someone has lived in a property, the more likely it is that they have equity in it and, therefore, may be more flexible on the final price they sell it for.

Is the garden overlooked?

One problem with viewings at night or during bad weather is that buyers won’t notice that the garden is overlooked. Not everyone likes being spied on when they’re gardening, playing with their children or sipping their tea in the sun.

Have you visited during rush hour?

A street may lack va-va-vroom at mid-day, but during the early morning or evening it may be a rat run with commuters belting up and down it. Ensure at least one of your viewings is at peak traffic time.

Are there any cracks in the walls?

Substantial cracks in the walls can be a sign of subsidence; every home owners nightmare. Some cracks may be historic, but if you spot them ask how old they are and, if you’re worried, have a Building Survey carried out before you buy the property.

Are there any damp patches?

Six percent of all homes in the UK or 1.63 million properties suffer from damp which, although not usually a structural threat to a home, can be both expensive and messy to sort out.

Look out for condensation on surfaces, soggy wallpaper or carpets and brown or black patches on ceilings and walls.

If a damp problem is spotted during a subsequent survey, the vendor will either agree to complete the work before the sale goes through or take the estimated cost off the property’s agreed final sale price.

Is there a Controlled Parking Zone planned for the area?

Local councils in most of the UK’s traffic-clogged towns and cities try to bring in CPZs from time to time or are invited to by cheesed off local residents. But although CPZs help ease the pressure on parking spaces, they can make parking for both residents and visiting friends expensive and bureaucratic.

If it’s a flat, how much is left on the leasehold and how much is the yearly management fee?

Most apartments are owned via a leasehold which is a long-term rental agreement. It doesn’t give the ‘owner’ real ownership of the bricks and mortar and although leasehold flats can go up in value, they can also nose drive as the leasehold begins to run out.

Some leaseholds can be as much as 999 years but most are 199 years. If they were built in 1890, for example, they are now have just 71 years to run, less than the 85 years many lenders require for a mortgage.

Once it’s under that threshold, it can be very expensive to extend the leasehold - so it’s an important question to ask.

Also, enquire what the yearly property management fees are. In new, swanky blocks these can be very high and cost several thousand pounds a year, while some older blocks with complicated structures that need constant maintenance may also have high annual fees.

Remember, CreditLadder can help you improve your credit score.

CreditLadder can improve your credit position by reporting your rent payments. CreditLadder is the first way to improve your credit score and position across all three of the main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, namely Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Building up a high credit score has a lot of benefits, including helping you access finance at better rates - this can also help save you money. CreditLadder also runs a free mortgage application service in partnership with Tembo which will tell you how much you could borrow.

Remember the content provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice.