Buyer’s Checklist – What to Look for Before You Buy!
You may be thinking that worrying about the condition of your home is what the inspection is for. And yes, it is. But there are many aspects of a home that will pass inspection but may not pass your own personal requirements for that cozy, cottage feel. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of things to look out for before you buy with a handy checklist to help you find your perfect home.
History
Don’t worry, we’re not talking about ghost stories and haunted houses. Rather, the construction, damage, and repair history of your home. Say, for instance, you are looking at homes that are built within a 100-year floodplain. You happen to know that just such a flood took place a few years back. But was your future home damaged in any way? If so, were those issues fixed, ignored, or still unresolved? Home inspections can’t catch everything, but by asking the right questions and understanding the history of the area—and the house—you can eliminate undetected issues like water damage and mold that will end up costing you more money down the road.
Windows & Doors
Whether you like your windows to face north, south, east, or west, when looking at a potential home to buy, pay attention to where the windows are in each room. How much light do they let in? You can even visit the home at different times of the day to get an idea of the natural light in each space. Not only that but pay close attention to the quality and condition of the windows and doors. Check for energy efficiency and ask the owners if or when they were last replaced. This can have a huge impact on your energy bill going forward.
What is the capacity of the windows? Are they of hurricane strength and if so, what impact winds can they sustain.
Layout
The number of bedrooms and bathrooms obviously plays a significant role in your home buying experience. How those bedrooms and bathrooms are positioned in the home is also important. As you tour different houses, try to get a feel for the flow from room to room. You may try to convince yourself that anything can be changed, but if renovations and rehabs aren’t in your future, then it will help to find a home with a layout you love, or at the very least, like.
Roof & Foundation
Foundation issues and new roofs are costly, which is why including these in your personal home inspection checklist is valuable. Ask your agent to help you investigate when a homeowner last replaced their roof, or if there are common foundation issues in the area due to flooding, erosion, or soil type. If you decide to move forward with buying the home, then these will be more thoroughly checked in your official home inspection.
Perfectly manicured gardens, cleverly placed mirrors, lighting to set a cozy scene and fresh licks of paint are all tricks sellers use to make their home more appealing. Making that big decision to start looking for a home is extremely exciting; in fact it’s so exciting that we sometimes get carried away and overlook things that could cost us in the long term. Here is a list of things that you should remember to check when you’re house hunting.
Next to each topic make a box ‘Good’ ‘Fair’ and ‘Deal Breaker’ and decide how each property matches up to your specifications.
Location
- Evaluate future plans for the area (business rights, shopping centres, freeways etc)
- Traffic (to and from)
- Crime occurrence – over the last year Policing / private security presence
- Neighbourhood – check noise levels during the day and night
- Proximity to informal settlements
- Proximity to amenities (school, work, shops) If there are views, check if there are building height limits for neighbouring buildings that could impact on your views.
The Property
- House Orientation on Property (North or South facing – this will impact on warmth and light)
- Structures legal according to plan and title deed restrictions
- Security (alarm system, burglar proofing)
- Provision for sewerage
- Provision for storm water drainage
- Road access (steep driveway, access onto busy road etc)
- Closeness to neighbours – ensure you have adequate privacy
- Pet friendly
- Additional parking Rates and taxes/levies – find out if it fits within your budget
The Building
- Structural cracks (especially above windows and arches)
- Dampness – any damp smell?
- Check walls, ceilings and inside sink cupboards for water patching.
- Electricals – Test light switches and look for plugs in every room Heating and/or cooling systems
- Condition of doors and cupboards
- Condition of flooring
- Condition of roof, fascias and gutters
- Condition of swimming pool/ water features
- Quality of kitchen finishes
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
- Adequate storage space
- Number of garages / carports
- Garage door height
- Driveway length and width
- Age of building
- Paint inside and/or outside of house
- Plumbing – check water pressure, turn on all taps and check that toilets flush too.
- Potential to renovate / expand
General
- Reason for sale of property
- Electrical certificate
- Electric fence compliance certificate
- Plumbing / Water Certificate
- Entomology certificate
- Gas certificate (if gas has been installed)
- Insurance: for period between occupation and transfer
- Occupational rent Price of similar homes in the same area