Viewing a property for sale can be an exciting prospect – but it’s always wise to keep your feet on the ground and ensure you know exactly what to look for.
Failing to spot the signs of common problems or forgetting to ask the current owners any pertinent questions might lead to you making an unsuitable purchase. As buying a property is likely to be the biggest transaction you’ll ever make, you will want to avoid making a particularly costly mistake.
So what should you be keeping an eye out for when viewing a potential new home? As well as looking at the interior of the property, you should pay close attention to its exterior, so start by sizing up its appearance as you approach the residence.
Examine the brickwork and roof to check that everything is good condition and there are no obvious faults such as cracks, missing tiles, and leaky guttering and drains. If there are extensive grounds, make a note so you can ask the owner how much maintenance work they will require.
Check the security of the garage or parking space and garden and make sure you’re clear on who holds responsibility for maintaining specific hedges, boundary walls and fences.
Once inside, take a quick walk around the property to get an idea of its layout, then go back to each room and examine it carefully. Look at the locks on the front and back doors and the windows to ensure they are secure and ask about the alarm system, if there is one.
Watch out for significant cracks in the walls and ceiling, as well as for exposed wiring, problems with the flooring and possible signs of damp. Check that there’s enough storage for your needs and make sure the light switches work.
In relation to the latter, if the lights are on when you visit the property in the morning or afternoon, it’s possible it may be particularly dark during the day, so you could be wise to turn them off to see how much natural light each room gets.
When examining the bathroom, look out for signs of mould and check the water pressure by turning a tap on. You should also make a note of how the room is ventilated – if there’s a window, does it open? If there’s a ventilation system in the ceiling, does it work properly?
In the kitchen, check the position of the appropriate plumbing for washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances if the room is empty of these items and assess the size of the triangle between the fridge, cooker and sink – if it’s too big, the space may be impractical for frequent cooking.
Other things that you might forget to watch out for if you’re in a rush to buy a home include the number of power and phone sockets available, whether any of the windows in the house are overlooked by a neighbour and any recent improvements.
If significant work has been done on the home, check whether it was carried out by a qualified tradesman or the owner – if it’s the latter, you may have reason to doubt the quality of the job.
Finally, it pays to take a look at the area in which the dwelling is situated. While the owner or estate agents can tell you about the property’s surroundings, it’s a sound plan to go for a walk or a drive through the nearby streets to check for amenities such as shops, GPs, dentists and public transport links.
Practice the commute to and from work in rush hour to get a good idea of how convenient the home is for getting to the office in a timely manner.
