Buying a new home is nothing short of exciting because for many it’s a life-long dream come true.
You’ve found the seemingly perfect home in the ideal location, but before closing the deal have you covered all the bases? During house viewing, it’s possible to miss certain problems that you’ll only discover after you’ve moved in. There are a few pre-purchase musts you need to take care off to ensure everything is in order. We list a few items to consider before settling.
What’s the Pest Situation?
The last thing you need is to realise that you already have unwanted “house guests” living with you. And pests and bugs aren’t uncommon in many homes. The presence of pests may cause significant damage in your home which you’ll have to pay for. Either that or you’ll have to pay for pest control. In this case, it pays to be proactive by conducting pre-purchase pest inspections in your home.
Here you engage the services of a professional to conduct an inspection and check on the risk of a pest problem in the home you want to buy. The contractors will provide you with a full report on whether there are pests present on the property. You can use this information to negotiate the selling price of the home.
Structural Integrity
Forget the stunning colour and stunning aesthetics of the house; how solid is the structure? Everything may not appear as it seems with regards to your home’s structure and a pre-building inspection will reveal any issues.
So the corners of the walls may have a few small cracks, but it’s nothing to be worried about, right? Not quite.
Ask any professional building contractor and they’ll tell you that any form of cracking can seriously compromise the building’s structural integrity. Look for an inspector to investigate if the property has any cracks or unstable movement.
Electrical Systems
You can’t move into a new home without making sure the electrical systems are in perfect working order. Is the hot water system working properly? What of the fuse box and electrical wiring?
Research has shown that the number one cause of household fires is due to electrical faults. To allay your safety fears and give you peace of mind, consider an electrical inspection. Here a professional inspector will investigate if there are any potentially dangerous electrical situations. This won’t only save you thousands of dollars on electrical repairs, but more importantly it can save your life.
Is Your New Home Gas Safe?
When buying your home, your safety must be your priority. This means you must make sure you check if your home is gas safe. There’s no way of telling when last the property was checked for gas safety. Don’t take chances; hire an inspector to check if the gas systems are in proper working order.
Poorly maintained or ill-fitted gas appliances can put you—and your family—at risk of leaks, explosions or fires.
Heating Systems
Is your heating system working as expected? Hire an inspector to find out before you move in. You don’t want to discover that there’s a problem in your heating system when Winter arrives. An inspector will assess:
- Whether the heating system can generate sufficient heat.
- If it needs replacing soon.
- Any hazardous conditions present in the heating system.
- If the system is outdated.
- If your windows need replacement. Old windows aren’t as energy efficient as modern ones.
Having the above mentioned information will save you from unnecessary future expenses associated with the heating system.
Plumbing Pre-Inspections
Many homeowners have reported experiencing plumbing problems only after they had moved in. Having the drains checked prior to moving into your home can save you a huge bill on plumbing repairs.
A pre-plumbing inspection includes examining the condition of the plumbing system—both inside and outside—your home. The inspector checks for any noises, blockages or leaks present in the following systems:
- Hot water system
- Water taps and pipes
- Sewer drains
The inspector will also have a look at your garden for healthy grass patches. This could be an indication of an external overflow in the sewer pipes.
Final Words
Never feel rushed to sign on the dotted line to conclude your purchase agreement. Take the necessary steps to ensure your new home is free from any potential problems.
If there are any, at least be aware of them so you know what you’re getting yourself into. This way you don’t have to deal with any surprise repair expenses in the future.
Buying a home is a sizeable investment. You want to make the right purchase with no regrets.
