So, you think you have found your dream property after it caught your eye huh? Before you spend time and money in professional inspections, let me walk you through some things you can check yourself to make your own initial assessment.
1. The Roof & Gutters
- For older houses check if the roof, gutters and downpipes have been recently painted. It could be a sign of existing problems with rusty gutters.
- Missing or loose tiles could indicate a bad repair job and introduce water leaks.
2. Walls and Ceilings
- Cracks or bulges could indicated significant movement in the foundations of the building.
- Mould growth could indicate dampness in the foundations or water leaks from roof or plumbing.
- Tap on bathroom tiles. If they sound hollow, the glue on the tiles are detached and could indicate a water proofing issue.
- Water stains on the ceiling indicate water leaks from the roof or plumbing that may be in the roof.
3. Floors
- Squeaky floorboards could indicate support beams are deteriorating and nails not holding the boards in place.
- Water marks and damp carpets indicate a water leak issue in the adjacent bathroom or leaning in the plumbing running through the walls.
4. Windows and Doors
- Check door/windows open smoothly.
- Check for drafts and gaps around closed doors/windows.
- Locks and handles should work like a dream. Safety first!
5. Plumbing
- Turn on the taps to hear for any tapping noises. This could indicate loose pipes not secured in the walls.
- Check water pressure is consistent. Lower pressure may indicated blockages in the in the tap heads.
- Look for damp spots and bulging of cabinets. This could indicate water leaks in the supply pipes or waste pipes.
- Flush the toilets. If the water doesn’t go down fast, this could indicate a blockage in the waste drains.
6. Electrical Systems
- Turn on lights/power points to ensure they flick on/off swiftly. Stuck switches need to to be replace by an an electrician.
- Inspect the main power switchboard box. You will see each circuit will be controlled by a flick switch fuse. If there is only one power point circuit and many power points, the circuit will overload and cut out when you connect all your devices into the power points. This will need re-wiring of the electrical circuit in the house.
7. Heating and Cooling
- Check AC/ceiling fans are working. Noisy fans and AC units may require replacing.
- Check if the warmth or cool air reaches all corners. Sometimes people install AC units which are not powerful enough to regulate the large area.
8. Pest Patrol
- Look out for cockroach dropping which could indicate pest infestation. Especially in the kitchen area and near hot water pipes/tanks.
- Brittle or hollow sounding wooden beams may indicate termite infestation.
- Gaps/cracks around cabinets and pipes entering walls are a sure way for cockroaches and spiders to invest the house. These should be sealed.
9. Storage Space
- Evaluate if there is adequate storage space for all your belongings.
- Kitchen should ideally have a pantry large enough to store your long term food items like grains and flour.
- Manchester space should also be assessed. Where will you store all your bedding?
10. Overall Structure
- Check for cracks in walls that are more than 3 mm. This could indicate a structural issue.
- Check for cracks in around the house foundations. Large cracks could indicate movement and the house is sinking.
Next Steps
Once you have done your initial checks and the property passes them, it’s time to call in the professionals.
- Professional building and pest inspections are a must-have before buying. The selling agent often arranges these inspections in advance. This saves each potential buyer from having to organise their own.
- You can usually purchase the existing inspection reports directly from the inspection company. It’s a time-saver and often more cost-effective.
- But if you want a second opinion, you have the right to request your own inspection. Just let the real estate agent know, and they can arrange it for you with your own inspection company.
- Remember, whether you use the existing report or get your own, you’ll need to buy it from the inspection company. Think of it as an investment in your peace of mind!
Happy house hunting, and may your perfect property be just around the corner with any nasty surprises.