Buying property should never be taken lightly; in fact, it’s arguably one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your adult life. Buy the wrong one, and you could be held back for years; buy the right one, and you could have decades of lasting memories in a place you could truly call your own. One of the most important jobs you have as a prospective property owner is to make sure that you are buying property in good condition and will not give you massive problems later on. Here are the most important factors you should consider when checking and viewing a house.
Spend time on itÂ
You can’t just view a piece of property for 20 minutes and think you’re done with it. Make sure you spend adequate time viewing the house, especially if it’s older than ten years. Take the time to check the house as thoroughly as possible, and check it at different times of the day. This is especially important during these times if you’re doing virtual apartment tours – make sure to view the house from all angles, and ask as many questions as possible.
What to check:
- DampÂ
One of the most important aspects you should check for is damp. Damp can be easily determined by mouldy or musty smells, flaking plaster, and ceilings or walls which are watermarked. Pay particular attention to ceilings and the area surrounding skirting boards. If a room has been recently repainted, this could also be a sign that the owner is trying to cover up damp.
- The building’s structureÂ
You should also make it a point to check the structure of the building. One way you can determine if a building is structurally sound is if it has no big or major cracks, especially in areas where there is a joining of extensions, the end-walls of terraces, and bay windows. These are the first areas which can begin to show signs of falling away from the rest of the building. If you’re in doubt about the building’s structure, you should have an extensive building survey done, such as the building surveys provided by Essex surveyors like Cheke & Co.
- Room for storageÂ
An aspect that is too often neglected by those who view a piece of property is the storage space. It’s a valuable asset, but it’s often forgotten. Check the house for storage areas where you can keep household essentials, clothes, old pieces of furniture, and so on. On the other hand, if the property doesn’t have much storage space, you can check if there is enough room for shelves or cupboards to be built in.
There are many other factors to consider, such as the condition of the roof, the size of the rooms, the glazing on the windows, and the plumbing. Make sure to check all these aspects as thoroughly as you can; by doing so, you can be avoiding a big mistake or making a very good deal.
