Going for a property viewing in Edinburgh is one of the major steps towards renting or purchasing it. As once a proposed buyer/tenant approves of the property after viewing, the next step is signing the contract with the landlord.

Hence the person going for a viewing should make the most out of it. He must go prepared, make a checklist. Take a notebook and camera with him to take pictures and notes which can help him later to come to a decision.

Is the property secure?
This is a key factor in selecting any property. Hence you should always start by examining the outside of the property to see it looks secure enough. Think- if you had left keys inside would it be possible to go inside from any window. If you identify one then check for its locks. These locks should be secure and tight enough. As if you can go in, so can a burglar. Also check the burglar alarm (see if it works properly). You should also see if the main entrance is solid and secure enough. Check any locks on it. In fact you should check if there are enough locks in the property and also if they are in good condition. Another thing to consider is adequate outside lighting.

What is the condition of wiring?
You must see if the wiring in the property is in good condition? Are there any repairs that need to be carried out on it? See if the plug sockets in the property are enough for your need, as you might end up overloading the existing ones, if they aren’t. If the property comes with electrical appliances like, fridge, freezer, oven then you should check if they are all in working condition.

Does the landlord have a Gas Safety Certificate?
Legally, landlords are required to carry out gas safety inspections from an engineer and provide the tenant with a copy of a Gas Safety Certificate. Besides this, you must take a few precautions yourself and check the flames. If they are blue then it’s safe. However if it’s yellow or orange than that means something is probably wrong. Also look for yellow or brown stains around the appliances.

Is the bathroom in a good condition?
For this purpose you should run the entire tap’s, turned on the shower and flush the toilet to check the water pressure. Also check the hot water from the hot water tap. Make sure the toilet has a window or a de humidifier. Lastly, make sure that the toilet does not leak.

Adrian Morrison is a marketing officer for Greenlet, property lettings website in Edinburgh. If you want more information on flat to rent in edinburgh, please visit edinburgh flats.