What To Look For When Buying A House

So you have finally saved up a deposit for a house and you are ready to start getting out there. You are probably reading this because you are wondering what should you be looking for in a house? How do you know it's value or if it's really worth your money? Will you need to do renovations and if so is it worth it? Buying a house can be both enjoyable and stressful at the same time. I am sure you can imagine living in every house you look at but don't be fool by the looks of the interior. There is so much more to house then just the interior. 

If you are serious about buying a property for yourself, then it pays to have a look at the kind of maintenance required in the future. Here are some things to look out for:

1. Water stains and mould

Mould is a type of fungus that forms from moist warm air and thrives in dark damp conditions. Mould can be found in the bathroom tiles, in the bath, shower, sink or in the toilet. Mould can really grow everywhere, it can be in the floor, ceiling, walls, around the fridge area, in pantry or around the stove. You should also check for mould around window sills, air conditioning and heating vents, in and behind curtains, fireplace/chimney, in the attic and basement, and in the garage. You should also look in areas that are not as obvious to the eye such as in/behind the walls, ceilings and in carpet.

2. Sagging ceiling and structure issues

Signs that the ceiling is sagging is by hearing loud cracks, visual dropping of the plasterboard, cracks or or nail pops. Some structural issues may be termites, roof leaks, wall and ceiling cracks, uneven floors, timber rot, crumbling concrete and check to see if doors or windows can be shut properly.

3. Rust

Make sure you check for rust in the gutters in case they are damaged and need replacing or check for rust on the driveway when inspecting a house. 

4. Check that the roof downpipes run to a storm water drain.

When inspecting the exterior of the house, make sure the roof downpipes lead to storm water drains and not just to the ground because there could be an issue of flooding. While looking at these pipes, also check for past flooding or excess water. This is important because installing pipes and a storm water drain can be quite expensive.

5. Look for drain holes on the exterior walls

This is incredibly important as these holes allow for water to escape from the cavity of the walls. You can usually find these holes below window and door frames. 

6. Location

When looking at the location of the house you should determine if the area reflects your values and what the price trends are for the area. Some things to look into are the crime rates, vacancy rates (particularly important if it is an investment property), nearby shops, schools, hospital and public transport. If you are looking at a location in a city, check to see if there will be a lot of traffic. You could also check in with the local council to see if there are any development plans for the future. You might also want to check if flooding and drainage might be a problem in the area. 

Overall, buying a property is an exciting venture but a big expense if the risks are not calculated correctly, it is always advisable to get the property checked by a professional before purchasing a house.