Preparing a viewing walkthrough
Before the appointment, re-read the validated requirements and prepare questions specific to the property. Confirm access, the spaces that can be viewed and the available documents. For a riad or a villa, maintenance and usage constraints form part of the process. Inform the client of what can be observed and what will require another specialist.
The method in practice
Prepare the viewing based on the validated search brief. Select three points to observe and one question to ask in each relevant space. Verify access, permission to view, available documents, and details that remain uncertain. Prepare a logical route: arrival and surroundings, layout, functional areas, constraints, final questions. A fictitious riad intended for family stays calls in particular for an observation of traffic flow and day-to-day maintenance. A commercial viewing must not turn into an improvised technical inspection. If a point requires a specialist, identify them and prepare the request for examination. Your plan must be clear enough for a colleague to take over without inventing promises or overlooking the client's priorities.
Fictional example
Your client wants low maintenance: include the outdoor areas, equipment and management of absences in the viewing, in the same way as the bedrooms.
A successful viewing addresses this client's specific project, rather than a universal list of selling points.
Observe without improvising a diagnosis
Describe a visible sign accurately: location, appearance and observation conditions. Do not infer a technical cause unless you possess the required expertise and information. A trace of dampness, a crack or an inactive piece of equipment can justify asking a question and seeking specialist advice. The correct approach consists in documenting the observation and identifying the appropriate verification needed.
The method in practice
During the viewing, use a three-column grid. 'Observed' denotes what you actually saw; 'stated' covers information attributed to its source; 'to be verified' identifies what is missing to reach a conclusion. An observed trace of damp does not on its own allow you to diagnose the cause or state the repair cost. Note down the location, context, and technical question to be forwarded. If the seller provides an explanation, retain it as a statement until properly verified. The same discipline applies to floor area, terrace usage, and shared facilities. Ask the client which observations affect their criteria in order to prepare a genuinely useful debrief.
Fictional example
“A mark is visible on the lower section of this wall; its cause is yet to be determined” is more precise than “it is merely condensation”.
Do not confuse looking, testing and diagnosing.
Debriefing without overwhelming the client
At the end of the viewing, have the property compared against the essential criteria defined initially. Separate observed assets, acceptable compromises and deal-breakers or unresolved points. Send a brief summary outlining the verifications to be arranged. If the client changes a criterion, record this change. A useful debrief does not repeat the listing: it explains what the viewing actually revealed.
The method in practice
The report must make a decision possible. Review the three prepared points, indicate what has been confirmed and what remains open, then ask the client for their own decision. In the case of a reservation regarding building works, a second accompanied viewing may be more useful than immediate negotiation. Separate feedback given to the client from feedback given to the vendor: the owner should receive relevant feedback about the property without unnecessarily receiving private information about the visitor. Close with the responsible person, next action, and agreed date. Avoid standalone phrases such as 'positive viewing': they say neither what is suitable, what is blocking the process, nor what the team should do next.
Fictional example
“The outdoor space suits your intended use; its maintenance costs remain to be calculated. The locked room must be viewed before completing our assessment.”
Three sections are sufficient: suitability, compromises, actions.
Your practical application work
A viewed villa meets the need for space. The garden maintenance cost is unknown and a piece of equipment has not been tested.
- My factual observations
- The two verifications to arrange
- My summary to the client