5 Things to Look Out for When Purchasing a Property

purchasing a propertyPhoto by Scott Webb from Pexels

Are you thinking of purchasing a new property in the next 12 months? Whether it’s your first home or you’ve lived in several houses before, there are certain things that you should look out for when you’re first viewing potential houses. Purchasing a property is a huge purchase, so you want to ensure that you’re getting the best possible home for your money.

So what should you pay attention to when on your next house viewing? Here are 5 things:

How Well The House is Insulated 

When looking at houses, pay attention to the water pipes, heating ducts, windows and doors. You want your new house to be well insulated, not only so that it’s a comfortable climate inside it, but so you can benefit from reduced heating and cooling costs throughout the seasons.

Insulating a home doesn’t come cheaply, so make sure that your next home has this already to save you money down the line.

The Condition of the Roof 

Before you step foot inside the property, look at what condition the roof is in from the outside. Does it look like it’s caving in? Or does it look relatively new? If there is obvious damage, then you’ll need to be prepared for damp inside the property. A new roof can be extremely expensive, so if possible, find a house with one that’s in great condition. 

However, keep in mind that even if it looks good from the outside, certain issues might not be visible until you’re up close – such as cracks in tiles or small holes. This is where a home inspection can come in handy.

Is There Water Damage?

Often, homeowners will try and cover any existing water damage with paint. And when this is done, the moisture is trapped in the walls, leading to mold. When viewing houses, look carefully under the sink and in the corners for mold or potential water damage. 

A Noisy Area

No one wants to live somewhere that’s very noisy – whether that be because the neighbors are loud or because it’s an incredibly busy street. When on the house hunt, step inside each property and see how well the sound is insulated. 

Sometimes, homeowners that are trying to sell their property will play music when people are viewing their property to drown out sounds – so if this is the case, ask them to turn it down or off so you can get a proper judgement.

Also, some realtors will take you to see the property at times when they know it will be quieter – for example, if the property is next to a restaurant or club, you probably won’t get a great insight into noise levels.

The Condition of The Water Tank (if the property has one) 

Many residential houses throughout this country and others have a water tank at the side of the property or in the backyard. And many of them will have water tank pumps that allow the rainwater that’s been collected to flow into the home. Pressurised water, it can be used for filling up the washing machine or to fill the toilet cistern. 

If the property you’re viewing has one, make sure to check the condition of it, how loud it is and enquire about its energy usage – as this can vary hugely by the type of water tank. It’s important to know that one that requires a lot of energy will result in higher electricity bills.

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One comment

  1. yep… things need to properly check before going to step in, its a big financial decision indeed.. 🙂

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