By Inspecting a property that you may potentially purchase can be a daunting experience, especially if it is to be your first home. Aside from noticing any potential issues, changing the value that you perceive the property to have, as well as that it might hold on the housing market, there is also the need to mitigate one’s excitement. The eagerness to purchase a house, especially one that makes a great first impression, can be difficult to overcome. However, if a home isn’t scrutinised properly, it may cause a great many issues down the line.
While each property is unique, there are a handful of universal considerations that are useful for buyers. By inspecting each one, it is generally possible to avoid the most common oversights and mistakes that occur when purchasing a new home.
Dampness
Moisture is one of the most pervasive issues for homes in the UK. Once it has taken hold of a home, it can be costly and even impossible to entirely remove or manage. As such, moisture should be at the forefront of a buyer’s mind when first visiting a property.
While there are certain devices that can be purchased or rented to help measure the level of moisture in the air, sellers will often seek to ventilate a home before the inspection to ensure that it passes such tests. Instead, visitors to a property should look for signs of longer-term moisture presence. Rotten wood, spots of mould, and even wet walls can all be key signs of moisture being present.
Plumbing
Another common water-related issue revolves around plumbing. As far as infrastructure goes, plumping can be one of the most time-consuming and expensive aspects of a home to repair, which is why it is important to recognise any issues early on.
Pressure checks are key here, as well as the examination of any exposed pipes, since both will describe the quality of the home’s plumbing system as a whole.
Gardens
An outdoor area is remarkably appealing and can increase a property’s value significantly. However, at the same time, if certain aspects are not considered, they can also be a source of ongoing and expensive maintenance.
Checking for signs of waterlogging is important and a good excuse to visit a home on a rainy day. The same goes for inspecting outbuildings, like log cabins, to ensure that their structure is sound. Additionally, be sure to look for the presence of various weeds as even a single plant can bring down the value of an entire property (see Japanese knotweed).
Electrics
Alongside plumbing, it is a home’s electric system that should be inspected. While professionals are best versed in accomplishing this, there are preliminary investigations that potential buyers can perform. Look at the quality of wiring and sockets, ensuring that they are not leaving any wires exposed.
Additionally, be sure to consider where sockets are placed. Many older homes can have irregular or redundant socket placements unsuitable for a modern home, those that are difficult to remove or replace without significant cost.
Comments