A practical due diligence checklist before you bid

Property and neighbourhood

• Attend a viewing if offered; take measurements and photographs where allowed.
• Walk the street at a different time of day; listen for rail lines, flight paths, industrial noise.
• Check mobile data, broadband availability, and parking — boring until you move in.

Legal and financial

• Solicitor sign-off on special conditions, not just a thumbs-up on the phone.
• Mortgage offer or bridging terms confirmed in writing for this specific lot.
• Deposit cleared into the account you will use for immediate payment.

Physical structure

• Roofline, gutters, and damp patches visible from the pavement still count as “inspection.”
• If you skip a full survey, own that decision explicitly.

Last forty-eight hours

• Re-read the addendum sheet — new documents land late.
• Confirm whether VAT applies to the purchase price on commercial or mixed-use lots.
• Set your walk-away number and tell someone sensible who will hold you to it.