Guides & insights
The Property Snapshot blog
Plain-English guides to help you understand a UK property before you make an offer.
12 May 2026 · 6 min read
What to check before buying a house in the UK
A practical checklist of the searches, risks and records every UK buyer should review before making an offer — from flood risk and EPC to planning history and sold prices.
Read article26 May 2026 · 5 min read
Flood risk explained: how to check before you buy
What flood zones mean, where the data comes from, and how to interpret a property's flood risk before making an offer on a UK home.
Read article2 June 2026 · 5 min read
EPC ratings explained: what an energy score means for buyers
How EPC ratings work, what each band means for your bills, and how to use a property's energy certificate when deciding whether to buy.
Read article10 June 2026 · 7 min read
The Homebuyers Code of Practice: what it means and what you should check
A plain-English guide to the National Trading Standards Homebuyers Code of Practice — what agents are required to disclose, what buyers can now demand, and how to use public data to verify it.
Read article13 June 2026 · 6 min read
How to negotiate a house price: using data to make a stronger offer
How UK buyers can use sold price history, time-on-market data, EPC ratings and area trends to build a data-backed negotiation position before making an offer.
Read article16 June 2026 · 7 min read
Scottish Home Report explained: what buyers and sellers need to know
What a Scottish Home Report contains, how to read condition ratings, what the valuation means, and how to use the report as a buyer to negotiate or decide whether to offer.
Read article19 June 2026 · 8 min read
Leasehold traps: what to check in the public record before making an offer
Ground rent, lease length, service charge, and cladding issues — the leasehold red flags every buyer should check before offering on a flat or leasehold house in England and Wales.
Read article20 June 2026 · 6 min read
How to search planning history before buying a property
How to find planning applications near any UK property, what to look for in the history, and how nearby development could affect value — before you make an offer.
Read article23 June 2026 · 5 min read
How to check crime rates for any area before buying a home
Where to find reliable street-level crime data for any UK address, what the numbers mean, and how to use crime trends as part of your property due diligence before making an offer.
Read article24 June 2026 · 4 min read
How to check broadband speed before buying a house
How to find out what broadband speeds are actually available at any UK address, why the headline 'up to' speeds on listings are misleading, and what to look for before you move.
Read article25 June 2026 · 4 min read
How to check council tax band before buying a property in the UK
How to find the council tax band for any UK address, what each band means in practice, and how to challenge a band you think is wrong — before you commit to buying.
Read article26 June 2026 · 5 min read
How to check schools near a property before buying in the UK
How to find out which schools serve any UK address, how to read Ofsted ratings in context, and how school proximity and catchment areas can affect both day-to-day life and property value.
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