Don’t just take your agent’s word for the condition of a house; you should always check it yourself. It will give you peace of mind and allow you to make an informed decision on whether or not a property is right for you. It can be daunting, but some things can help make viewing a property more accessible and more enjoyable;
A property’s curb appeal gives you your first impression and can indicate the home’s condition.
- If your property’s curb appeal is poor, it might be a sign that the inside of your house is in poor condition too.
- It could indicate what kind of people live there and how they treat their home.
- Poorly maintained gardens are often an indication that owners don’t keep their homes, which may also mean they’re not good at looking after themselves either!
The appearance of a property from the outside can be misleading.
You may have heard the saying, “never judge a book by its cover.” It is very relevant in terms of viewing a property. When you look at a property, it’s easy to focus on the exterior because that’s what you can see from the outside. But if you don’t also take note of what’s inside, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise when you move in.
Look at the condition of the exterior walls – are there any signs of dampness? If so, this could indicate leaks or drainage problems, which means more maintenance costs over time.
Check for signs of mold growth on windowsills and sills around doors. This could mean there is a leaky roof. And dampness will occur within the property leading to costly repairs down the line!
Interior doors should be solid to the touch; if not, this could indicate damp issues or structural problems.
You don’t want to be the person buying a house that collapses because of rot and woodworm. So you check the floorboards for signs of decay. You also check for evidence of water damage, mold in bathrooms, and signs of dampness in kitchens. It is essential to check everything when viewing a property.
There is a difference between character and character defects!
- Character
- Character defect
Character is the history of a property, whereas character defects are things that need to be fixed—for example, dampness, mold, broken windows, cracked wall plaster, etc.
Don’t be fooled by clutter; make sure you have a good look at the walls for any dampness or mold.
Clutter can be deceiving. It’s easy to be seduced by the idea of a home that looks like it’s been taken care of but doesn’t let the presence of clutter give you a false sense of security. Take some time to look around, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you notice anything unusual. Asking questions is vital when buying property, especially if this is your first time buying something like this! Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about asking questions—as long as they’re within reason; there’s no harm in ensuring everything checks out before moving forward with an offer on a property.”
A property’s kitchen is one of the most important rooms. Is it in a state which would make you feel comfortable cooking in?
In the kitchen, look for signs of wear and tear. For example, consider this a red flag if there are chips in the countertop or if any cabinets look like they’re about to fall apart.
Your new home must have an up-to-date appliance package (especially regarding your refrigerator). New appliances cost money and time—and could end up costing you potential buyers who don’t want to replace them themselves—so make sure whatever is there works as well as possible.
Pests are occasionally inevitable when buying a house with an outdoor space (though more often than not, they are caused by human action), but if you notice evidence of pest infestation like fecal stains on the windowsills or droppings throughout the property, think twice before purchasing it!
Turn on taps and flush toilets when viewing bathrooms to test water pressure and drainage.
- Turn on the taps. If a faucet drips, there’s probably a leak in the system, and you’ll want to know about it before buying.
- Check for rust. Rust stains on shower heads, tubs, and sinks are never pretty.
- Test water pressure—and drainage! Make sure that both of these things work correctly, as this can be an expensive problem if they don’t.
If an agent doesn’t want you to see something, ask why not!
Suppose an agent doesn’t want you to look in a room, ask why not! If they tell you that the light isn’t good or messy, ask them if there’s anything else in the room worth looking at. If your agent gives a vague answer like “nothing really” or “it’s filthy,” then go ahead and take a look yourself.
If there are no certificates available for electrical, heating, or gas installations, don’t buy the house!
For example, if the seller has no certificates for electrical or gas installations or heating systems, wait to buy the house!
You can’t trust them to have done the necessary checks and will probably end up paying for all kinds of work yourself. The property may also be unsafe because parts need to be appropriately maintained.
Ensure you check everything, including light fixtures and appliances, when viewing a property. Make sure they come with the house!
When viewing a property, check everything, including light fixtures and appliances. Make sure they come with the house! If they don’t, ask why not.
Is there enough space for all your stuff? Make sure there is enough storage space in your new home!
As a potential home buyer, you should ensure that you have enough space in the property for your belongings. You may be thinking, “what does this mean?” It means that if you have a large amount of furniture and other things like books, records, and DVDs, then it will be important that there is enough space for these items.
If this is too much hassle for you and all your stuff, I recommend looking into additional storage options. So many different storage solutions are available that could suit your needs perfectly!
You can only view a property a few times before committing to buy!
You should only view a property once and always view it twice.
Seriously though, you need to see how the property looks in all seasons, by day and by night. Ideally, you will also want to see it at different times to get a feel for what it’s like during winter or summer (or any other time of year). So visit on some random weekday and a weekend. You need to know what living there will be like at all hours of the day—early morning, late at night when everyone else has gone to bed, and no cars are driving past your window.
Don’t just look at the outside of a property; always view its interior. It is the best way to see how livable it will be for you and your family. If you’re buying an older home, ensure that all the fixtures are in good condition. Or available to replace if needed – avoid getting stuck with something that needs replacing immediately after moving in!
