put your VERY practical head on
– car parking (is it needed, is there any)
– review street/area at various time (ie pub kicking out, rush hour, nearby international football stadium game time.. etc etc), especially directly connected bits – what are neighbours like, …. etc etc
– flooding history …(look at house condition, garden condition, paintwork, roof condition etc etc etc – it’s an indicator nothing else), you cold even try knocking on nearby doors Hallo, I’m doing a study for a thesis on the local area on what it’s like to live here ……..
(*I once bought a flat where the neighbour complained about the noise I was making when I was moving in ……….. guess if I enjoyed living there …)
– re mortage (I’d understand the options properly, e.g fixed rate vs variable etc etc, mainly as IMHO (and get other advice on this) there is probably/likely/???who knows to be a rise in rates over time 5% is payable is 9% (and FYI I’ve paid interest at 14%……..)
if it’s leasehold(probbaly not with a house) review lease carefully, be clear of costs and speak to other leaseholders about how well it’s all working
edit – phone up and get building/contents quotes (and for similar properties in slightly different areas), as a high premium may indicate potential problems
– re cellar, I’d deffo door knock and ask about damp with nearish neighbours