Photos and Notes:

I recommend taking lots of photos while you are at the property and also to make a walk through video with commentary. This will be invaluable for you when you are comparing properties at the end of the day and its also very useful if you want to send it or show it to someone you trust to get their opinion.

Of course, if the owners are there it is polite to ask first as some do prefer you to avoid capturing things like family photos and some prefer you not to take any photos at all. Take notes of anything that you think you may need to remember as you will inevitably get details of different properties confused. 

Maintenance and improvements. 

One think that people generally overlook but that should have a significant impact on your buying decision is the maintenance needed. 

Firstly make a note of any essential maintenance or improvements that would need to be made as soon as you take possession of the property in order for it to meet your basic requirements, this should include everything from repainting a room up to building an extension. This is vital for your budgeting but also very useful when it comes to making an offer.

You should also make an assessment of the ongoing maintenance that the property will need to keep it up to a good standard. As I mentioned before this will vary from one property to another and could have a big impact on your lifestyle and your wallet and so should be carefully considered.