The house-hunting checklist that actually helps you decide
Most checklists tell you what to look at. The trick is turning what you see into a decision. Use this at every inspection, then score each place against it — so ten blurred viewings become one clear ranking.
Before you go: decide what matters
Agree your non-negotiables and your nice-to-haves up front — ideally with whoever you're moving in with. A place that's missing a deal-breaker shouldn't get a second viewing no matter how good the kitchen is. Writing these down (and scoring against them) keeps a glossy listing from hijacking your judgement.
At the inspection: the things photos hide
- Natural light and aspect — which way does it face, and when does the sun actually reach the living areas?
- Noise — busy road, flight path, train line, the neighbour's deck
- Water and damp — stains on ceilings, musty smells, mould in wet areas
- Storage — wardrobes, linen, a place for bikes/boards/the vacuum
- Parking — secure vs. on-street, and is it really yours?
- Phone signal and where the NBN connection lands
- Outdoor space — usable, private, and which way it faces
- The street itself — through-traffic, parking pressure, how it feels
Deal-breakers worth a hard no
- On or right beside a busy road
- High-voltage powerlines overhead or next door
- Obvious high-maintenance burden (pool you won't use, endless gardens)
- Bushfire or flood exposure you're not prepared for
Afterwards: score it while it's fresh
Memory blurs fast after the third viewing of the day. Score each place the moment you leave — tick what it had, flag the deal-breakers, rate the location and add a gut-feel number. In Groundwork that rolls into one comparable score per home, so your shortlist ranks itself and you decide on evidence, not the most recent emotion.
Ready to start your shortlist?
Add your first place and score it in under a minute — no signup. Bring your people in whenever you're ready.
Common questions
How is each property scored?
You decide. Set your own categories, points and deal-breakers, add a location rating and a gut-feel score, and Groundwork rolls it into one comparable number for every place.
Can my partner or housemates use it with me?
That's the whole idea. Invite anyone you're searching with by email and you all score the same shared shortlist — no more scattered group chats and half-remembered favourites.
Does it work for renting as well as buying?
Yes. Switch a hunt to Rent mode and the price field, the value-for-money score and your exports all move to a weekly-rent basis. Everything else works the same.
Is Groundwork free?
Yes — Groundwork is free for buyers and renters, with no per-property or per-hunt charges. You can start scoring straight away without even creating an account.