How to read a property listing without getting misled

"Cosy" means small. "In need of some updating" is doing a lot of work. "Ideal for the developer" means either structurally questionable or planning-restricted. This is not cynicism. It is pattern recognition.

Square footage and room dimensions

If the listing has no floor plan or room dimensions, that is a red flag. Many do not include them. Download the floor plan if there is one and check the actual sizes. A "double bedroom" can be technically double but functionally useless for anything except a bed.

What the photos avoid

A listing with 12 photos that shows the living room four times but nothing of the bathrooms, the back garden, or the street view is telling you something. Photograph avoidance is more informative than what they do show. If it is not in the photos, ask to see it specifically on the viewing.

Price history

Rightmove does not show price history by default, but third-party sites like Zoopla and Mouseprice do. A property that started at £350k, dropped to £325k, and now sits at £299k has been on the market for months. The vendor is more flexible than the current asking price suggests.

"Part exchange considered" and "chain-free"

"Chain-free" usually means the property is empty or the vendor already has somewhere lined up. It can mean faster completion, which has real value. "Part exchange considered" usually means the property has been hard to sell and the agent is fishing for any route to a deal.

Location claims

"Borders X area" or "within easy reach of Y" are often stretched. Check the actual postcode on a map. Check the school catchment properly via the council website, not the agent's copy. Walk the route from the station if commuting matters to you. Listings oversell location more consistently than anything else.