Newstricky| The thought of buying a new house is an exciting process, who wouldn’t want to tour around places to see where they can possibly move? However, as you might have guessed, there are a lot of things that can be potential problems during the house-selection process. Some will charge you way more than the actual property’s worth, and others will attempt to conceal the problems with the property. So, in order to protect the house buyer, we will highlight the most important things you should look out for when buying a house.
The Structure of the Property
Never be too shy of making an inspection of the structure of the building your top priority and most important point of conversation during the process of selecting a new home. Inspecting the structure might seem like an abstract term to consider, but in reality, you should dig deep in your inspections. This means going beyond just inspecting the interior, instead, you should check out the structure of the roof, the floor surfaces, and most notably the foundation. This doesn’t mean only the house itself should be checked. You need to pay some attention to the surroundings as well. This means checking for insect infestations and checking the pipe drains for any leaks.
Does it Have any Damp?
At the first sight of damp, you should be immediately turned off from the prospect of buying the property unless the cost got dramatically reduced. The cost of removing dampness from a property can range anywhere from $500 to $7,000. So, do you still want to overlook the damp you noticed?
One way of easily noticing dampness is when you start sensing the smell of rotten wood. The musty smell can be noticed in places where there is a lot of moisture to be found (most notably in the bathroom). Beware of any dark patches on the walls, the roof, or the floors, as well as if the walls feel cold or damp. Some people will try to paint over the dark spots to trick the potential buyer into thinking there aren’t any problems, so if you don’t see any dark spots, trust your nose.
Is the Heating System Functioning as Intended?
Checking the heating of the house involves a lot more than just the temperature once you come into the place. Most notably:
- The Water Tank
Checking the water tank becomes a lot more vital if you learn that the house depends on the hot water storage tank. In this case, you should prioritize checking the water tank to spot any potential leaks. Checking the thermostat won’t be a waste of your time either.
- The Boiler
In any case, you should check the boiler as part of the heating system inspection. It isn’t only important that the boiler functions, but that it also functions efficiently. Ask about the age of the boiler and determine through the check whether it’s capable of running things more efficiently and if it can be upgraded to do so in order to reduce running expenses.
- The Radiators
Radiator checkups are comparatively easier to do. All you need to worry about is whether the radiators have any signs of corrosion, cold spots, or leaks. This way you can rest assured that there will be no blockages.
The Plumbing
In any case, before buying a house, you must make a thorough inspection of the plumbing of the property before signing anything. If it’s necessary, hire a professional to do the checkup in your place. But the gist of it is that you should check the water supply from the external pipes outside of the property to the internal pipes inside of the property to the toilet and taps to make sure there aren’t any leaks or other irregularities.
Another worthy mention is checking the condition of the pipes themselves, see whether they are fragile and old and whether they will cause you any leaking problems in the near future. It can be incredibly costly to replace pipes later once you’ve settled down, so making sure that the plumbing is completely fine is vital for any potential house buyer.
How Much Storage Space Does the House Have?
When moving into a new home, you need to think about the long-term, and how much storage space is there for you (and possibly your family)? How much space do you see yourself needing now or in 5-10 years? Newly built houses are notorious for the lack of space they provide to the people living in them. So, before signing the contract, make sure that you can fit everything you need into the new house. And after you are satisfied with the amount of space that is offered, you can start browsing Acqua Bathrooms for all kinds of great accessories that will make your bathroom feel like an elegant palace.
The State of the Roof
Roof replacement is a very expensive process. So, when you are checking out a new home to buy, one of the most important things you need to look out for is whether the roof is in a good shape or not. If you choose not to pay attention to loose shingles, then you will make a roof repairman very happy. Ask the person that owns the house how old the roof is because most newly made roofs can last only around 15-20 years. If the roof is flat, you can check out the material it is made from and its condition yourself.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be bolder about asking all kinds of questions regarding the property you are considering buying, and that the presented information has helped you not get swindled for your money.
