Hard-headed because buying a property is a major investment, and your decision to purchase a particular property should be carried out after a careful analysis of its advantages and disadvantages.

Systematic because you will probably be looking at a number of properties and it helps if your approach to each is consistent.

A simple checklist is a good idea. The items which it covers would include: address, owner's name, type of property, estate agent, price, date and time of viewing, approximate size of each room, type of air-conditioning, quality of outside repair and decoration, quality of inside repair and decoration, garage/car parking, neighbourhood type, closeness of shops, transport and schools.

When you narrow down the field and have a shortlist, make sure you return for a second visit and subject all your possible buys to critical scrutiny.