House Buying Design Questionnaire Observation Location Where is the path of the summer and winter sun and what effect will it have on the property? Is the house in an area that floods? Is the house situated in a frost pocket? What is the direction of the prevailing wind? Are there any strange smells in the air, if so, are they identifiable? What is the quality of the views from the house and garden? Are there signs of erosion in the garden? Garden Are there frost pockets in the garden, if yes is there a solution for removing them? Is the garden overlooked, if so, would this become a problem? Which direction is the garden facing? How much sunlight does the garden get? What is the current state of the garden? What is the quality of the soil? Does the garden have a lawn? Are there trees in the garden that create shade? Are there large trees that could become a problem? Could you add a greenhouse to the garden? Does the property have a hedge or fence? If it has a fence what is the state of the fence? If it has a hedge how easy will it be to cut? Is there any standing water in the garden or signs that there has in the past? Is there room for a pond in the garden? Is there good access to the garden for bringing in materials? Would it be possible to have a fire pit in the garden? Outside of the house What is the current state of the building? What is the current state of the windows and doors? Is there double glazing? What is the state of the guttering? Where are the bins kept? Inside the house Are there any smells, if so, are they identifiable? What is the state of the decorating? What are the floors like – i.e., carpeted, tiled, or wood? Is there any visible damp inside the house or a good possibility of damp? Is the kitchen up to a high standard or in need of replacing? What is the state of the interior doors? Is there a bath? How clean are the toilet and the bathroom? Can you hear the neighbours? Are the floors and stairs noisy when walked on? Do the doors shut easily? What type of boiler and what sort of age is it? Is there central heating? What type of fire is in the living room? Boundaries Do the neighbour’s gardens have anything that could be an issue or become a future issue regarding the property? Are there any trees nearby that could become a problem? Is there any running or standing water nearby that could flood the house or prevent you from accessing the house? How much room is there to park two cars? If the house is on a hill what is the ease of access for a car in winter? Is the house located on a school route? What activities happen local to the house that could cause noise or parking issues? Resources Garden Is there a shed, if yes, what is the size and condition of it? Is there a greenhouse, if yes, what is the size and condition of it? Is there a place to enjoy the sun during the day? Is there a place to enjoy the evening sun? Would it be possible to harvest water from the house roof? Is there an outside tap? Are there any compost heaps? Can I add a compost area into the garden? Is there a vegetable garden, if yes what state is it in? House Does the house get morning sunlight? Does the house get evening sunlight? Does the house have plenty of windows for its size? Are there any solar panels attached to the house? Are there mains electric and gas connected in the house? What internet speeds are available in the house? Is the mains water on a meter? Evaluation Garden Can I incorporate the existing garden design into how I see the future garden? Do I have the resources available to create the garden of my dreams? What resources would we need to add to create the garden of my dreams? What do you like most about the garden? What would you like to change most in the garden? House If we need to replace any major areas of the house; kitchen, bathroom, etc. do we have the available resources? Could I afford the mortgage if I had to take a lower-paid job? What resources would we need for other areas of the house? Is the house large enough to fulfil all our needs? What are our needs with regards to the house? I can sit whilst working on my computer and watch the birds in the garden? What do you like most about the garden? What would you like to change most in the garden? Design Garden Visualise different permaculture designs for the garden. Visualise how you would like to see the garden in 3 years. House Visualise different permaculture designs for the house. Visualise how you would like to see the house in 3 years. Implementation Garden How realistic are your designs for the garden? How realistic would it be that you could create your 3-year future garden design? How much time would you need to invest physically working in your garden to create it? Have you got the time to invest in this garden project? What would the finical cost be involved in implementing your garden? Do you have the money to invest in the garden? House How realistic are your designs for the house? How realistic would it be that you could create your 3-year future house design? How much time would you need to invest physically working on your house design? Have you got the time to invest in this house project? What would the finical cost be involved in implementing your house design? Do you have the money to invest in the house? If we needed could we renovate instead of replacing it? Maintain Garden How much time each day would I need to spend marinating the garden? House How much time will it take to look after a house this size? What would the cost be for the utility bills?