Start outside, before you step in
Arrive with time to walk the approach from the street. Look at where guests would park, how you would unload groceries and the route you would take to the beach with a bag in each hand. The supplied listing puts the sand approximately 25 metres away. Walk the actual route rather than treating that figure as a promise about access.
Look at the decks from ground level as well as from above. Note anything you want a building inspector to examine, without trying to diagnose it yourself. A sunny afternoon can tell you a lot about light; it cannot tell you how a roof behaves in heavy rain.
Walk through an ordinary day
In the kitchen, imagine preparing breakfast while other people move between the lounge and covered deck. Open storage with the owner's permission. Measure the spaces that matter for your furniture, rather than relying on a wide-angle photograph.
Then visit the ground floor separately. Ask how the apartment connects to the rest of the home, where everyone would sleep and how bathroom access works when the house is full. If stairs, mobility or young children are part of your decision, try the route you would actually use.
Leave with a short follow-up list
Separate your notes into what you saw, what the seller told you and what still needs a document or professional opinion. Ask for the current title, council information, a chattels list and any measured plans. Keep unresolved questions in writing.
Settled recommends using a suitably qualified property inspector and understanding the scope of their report. A viewing is a starting point, not a substitute for that work. Our printable checklist gives you a place to record the questions you want answered before an offer.
