Four things to look for when viewing a home
Planning to buy a new home? Discover four things you need to look for during your viewing to help you make the right choice.
While viewing many different homes can be an exciting moment in your life, it comes with its fair share of worries and concerns. After all, it’s one of the most important decisions of your life, and you want to make sure that you’re remaining cautious during this time.
Brokerage companies like Compass Real Estate understand that a quick 30-minute walk around a house can be daunting, especially if you plan to spend the next 30 years of your life there. That’s why it’s important for you to know what to look out for when you step foot into that viewing so that you can use that time wisely.
Consider these four important things to look out for and you’ll be able to find the perfect home for your specific needs.
1) Check the structure
Most homes are going to have a handful of minor general hairline cracks in the property. This is to be expected and isn’t anything to worry about. However, large cracks are something you’ll need to look further into.
Larger cracks can be found around windows and areas in the property where extensions meet. If you find some of these, it’s a good idea to question the current homeowner or the agent about them. It may be a potentially expensive issue in need of attention, or simply a cosmetic issue. Either way, a trained professional may be needed to confirm this with you.
2) Look beyond furniture and decor
Our senses can go into overload when we enter a new property that’s available for sale. Whether it’s a strategic comforting smell, some well-placed lighting with a fresh paint job, or the crackling of a fireplace during your viewing, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s beyond the furniture and ambiance of the house in its current state.
Question what is going to be removed and what’s staying in the house. Try to eliminate the eye-catching items and focus on how that bare room will look in the future. Make sure it’s still your ideal home, even after these items are removed.
3) Water pressure and heating
Asking if the radiators and boilers of a property are in working order may sound like a ridiculous question, but it’s one of the most important aspects of a home viewing. You shouldn’t stop there, either – asking about the age of the water tank and the water pressure in the home is a sensible approach.
4) Wiring
Having to completely rewire a new home is one of the most costly and overlooked issues that can stem from moving into a new property. This can be resolved by taking the time to delve a little deeper into the house.
Don’t be afraid to check the fuse box, which should contain a date with the last time the wiring of the house was checked. Be sure to also take note of how many power outlets are readily available in each room, especially if you have a family to consider.
Photo by Neven Krcmarek
