From space to noise to quality of life, follow their lead as you start your property viewing journey.

You’ve set aside an amount for downpayment, you’ve mulled over the decision to invest, and you’re ready to start viewing properties to purchase. Now what? 

It’s the ocular-of-oculars, the viewing-of viewings, and the activity that will lead you to one of the biggest decisions of your life—touring property investments is one of the most serious tasks you can ever do. This is not just a simple look-over: you have to be able to survey the right things, look into unnoticeable details, and, in that short frame of time you’re in the presence of what might be your future home, be able to ask the right questions that will inform you to make the correct decisions.

And who better to ask for advice than those who have done their fair share of property viewings? We talked to five property-seeking individuals, each at different life stages, to share their checklist of things to watch out for when viewing property.

Shiela—35, Single, Insurance Executive:

“I was about to jump into what seemed like a good deal: a bungalow within the perfect urban location, sized just right for my needs, perfect layout, in a quiet and upscale neighborhood. Only to check online resources and finding out that it’s red on the flood hazard rating.”

The Philippines being a typhoon-prone country is a fact we have to deal with, so choosing a flood-free property is a no-brainer when it comes to investments. When viewing a property, ask around or do self-research: is the location flood-prone? What is the development’s drainage situation? How did the location fare during previous major typhoons? Check flood hazard mapping websites and web articles to see if there’s been flooding in your chosen area.

May—33, Married, Multinational Company Marketing Officer

“I gave birth to our first baby during the pandemic, so our first consideration when we were viewing properties is how conducive it is to raise a healthy child. Does the property have enough trees, parks or playgrounds? How kid-friendly is the swimming pool? Can we exercise outdoors as a family? Those were all important to us.”

When viewing a property, it’s not just your potential home you should pay attention to: it’s also the quality of life around your home. Take time to view and survey the property’s amenities: is the playground well-maintained and situated in a safe place? Is the pool regularly cleaned? Where can you safely do a leisurely walk with family at the end of a tiring day? Just outside your property, go as far as taking a deep breath and exhaling—how’s the air quality? Sentrove at Cloverleaf might just tick your boxes, with children’s play areas, playgrounds, garden spaces, meditation areas, jogging paths and pools for lap swimmers and kiddie waders alike.

Sentrove at Cloverleaf Pool Amenity, Artist’s Perspective

Gerald—51, Married, Advertising Creative Director

“See, I’m not getting any younger, but I still spend long hours in the office thanks to my job. My wife runs an online baking business at home while our only 27-year old son lives with us while studying for the bar exam. The first thing we checked in our new condo was noise. Due to our busy scheds, we want to kick back with a quiet night at home.”

When touring a property, activate your senses and check if the noise levels are to your liking. This may be influenced by many things—the lifestyle of the people in the property, whether a construction site exists nearby, or whether the location is near a concert or events ground.

By the way, quiet doesn’t have mean away from the city or from exciting areas—check low-density properties as they contain less units per floor—Orean Residences in Ayala Vertis North, with only seven units per floor, is a great example.

Orean Residences in Vertis North, Artist’s Perspective

Eva—72, Widow, Retired Journalist

“My husband and I used to live in an expansive house and lot in a quiet village. Our kids have their own families and live abroad or in their own homes, save for my youngest son who visits me weekly. Since my husband passed, I realized that I don’t want to spend my golden years maintaining a huge house when there is only me and my trusted helper. I want to make the most out of my life: go malling with grandchildren, savor my favorite restaurants, and pick up an active, sociable lifestyle. Those were my considerations in moving to a condo.”

A home may be your most important necessity, but how close is it to everything else you need? When viewing property, check if accessibility will be an issue—go the distance by timing how long it will take to reach essential establishments. How many minutes does it take to get to a mall, hospital or church? Is the nearest grocery store walking distance? If a car is not available, how easy is it to leave and return to the property by public transport or rented vehicles? The time we spend on the road, or having to access something we need, is inversely proportional to our quality of life.

Nico—27, Single, Civil Engineer

“I’m finally at a place in my life where I can afford a one-bedroom condo. I’d like to hold on to this place as long as possible, so I want to make sure each detail is of good quality. Maybe it’s because of my job, but I am eagle-eyed at some details: are the size of the rooms proportional to each other? Does the layout of the condo allow me to have a delineated space for a dining area, living area, and a workstation? Is the kitchen size reasonable to store not only food, but my cleaning essentials and house tools? Does the bathroom feel too cramped? All of these matter to me!”

When viewing a property showroom or sample unit, ask yourself: does everything in this space feel forced or feel natural? Does each area have room to breathe, or do they carelessly pour into another part of the house? When viewing a home, feel yourself moving within each part of the house, and determine if you are able to move freely. 

If this is major consideration for you, consider developments such as Viento by Cerca, where not only do units provide ample space for a full living room and a full dining set, each unit contains a utility room to make sure floating home items are kept in one place. What’s more, each kitchen is semi-enclosed in its own space, allowing you to delineate your living activities from prep, to entertaining, to relaxation, to sleep.

Viento at Cerca 4-bedroom bi-level unit, Artist’s Perspective

You’ve heard it from them—now, it’s your turn. Which one of these are most important to you?