Light is the cheapest luxury

Surfaces can be changed, kitchens can be replaced, walls can be moved. Daylight is the one quality that is almost impossible to buy afterwards. That is why careful designers think about orientation before they think about finishes.

On a viewing, ask which way each room faces and then check it with your own eyes. In the northern hemisphere, south-facing rooms tend to receive the longest sun; north-facing ones hold a cooler, steadier light that many artists prefer. Neither is wrong.

Visit at more than one hour if you can. A room that glows at noon may be dim by five. If a second visit is not possible, ask to see the home in the late afternoon, when the evening routine of a household actually happens.

Look at how light travels. An open stair, a glazed door or a high window can borrow brightness from one room and lend it to the next. Deep floor plans with a single window wall often need this kind of help.

Finally, consider the shade you cannot see: trees that will grow, buildings that may rise. A garden that is bright in winter can be dense in summer, and the reverse can also be true.