Things to Check When Buying a House

Attending an open for inspection or a private inspection with the agent can be a daunting task for anyone, no matter how experienced they are. Of course, the property must tick the location, size, budget etc boxes but if you’re seriously considering purchasing the property, it pays to be thorough as well.

There’s more to a home than its interior design so try not to let the home’s attractive features and gorgeous styling influence your decision too much. Remember to take into account the building’s state of repair as much as you judge the layout of the kitchen or get excited about the dedicated theatre room. Reign in the heart and let the head rule for a bit!

A few simple maintenance checks can sometimes be the difference between buying your dream home and stepping into a costly nightmare.

With that in mind, here are some things to look for at your next inspection.

Check for water stains, corrosion and mould

Try to look at the walls for any signs of moisture penetration or water leaks, especially near showers and baths as this can be very costly to repair.

Assess ceilings for sagging

Look at the ceilings to see if they have a ‘parachute’ appearance. This can be done by shining a torch across the ceilings, which will show up all deflections and defects in the ceiling sheets.

Look inside the cabinets in all wet areas

All cabinets should be opened to see if there is a smell of damp, mould or mildew. Any damp smells can be an indication of water leaks or even rising damp.

Check the walls for large cracks

The internal and external walls should be checked to see if there are any large cracks. Properties with a large number of cracks greater than 2.0mm in width are cause for concern and should be further inspected by a qualified building inspector.

Check for mould in bathrooms and bedrooms

Mould can look like harmless clouds on the walls and ceilings if they’ve recently been cleaned. But finding it should set your alarm bells ringing. Firstly, mould’s bad for your health – by releasing allergens into the air, it can cause allergic reactions and aggravate respiratory health issues, such as asthma – and secondly, it could be the result of a larger issue.

It may need to be cleaned by professional mould remediation companies, who often charge a hefty fee.

Check the internal wall plastering for fine cracks

The internal wall plastering can be easily checked for fine hairline cracks (map cracking, as they take on the appearance of a map). These cracks are caused by the incorrect application of the wall plastering at the time of construction.

If they’re found in one area of the property, they’re usually found elsewhere. The plaster can crack further and even come loose, especially when wall fixings for paintings are installed.

Look at the external roof lines

Look at the lines of the roof to check if they are straight and free from deflections.

Check the roof gutters for rust

The roof gutters may look great from ground level but checking them from their top side may reveal them to be corroded and in need of replacement.

Check the roof downpipes run to storm water drains

Do a quick walk around the external perimeter of the home to check that all roof downpipes are discharging into stormwater soak wells and not just onto the ground.

You should also look for any signs of past flooding or excess water flow around the roof downpipe bases, as this often indicates that the soak wells are not suitably sized or require cleaning out, which can cost an arm and a leg.

Installing stormwater soak wells on an established property can be very expensive, as paving, concrete and garden beds may need to be excavated to install the drains.

Look for drain holes on the external perimeter walls

This is particularly important for multi-storey properties. There should be small holes evident above and below window and door frames and along the suspended slab levels. The holes will usually be spaced approximately 1200mm apart. These holes allow water to escape from the cavity walls. Without these holes, water can penetrate the internal walls of the home and cause ongoing and expensive maintenance.

If you’re ever in doubt, ask a professional to assess the property and write a detailed report on its state of repair.

Are there any signs of pest activity?

Look for signs of pest trouble, such as rat or mousetraps or poisons. Sagging floors, springy floors and steps, as well as hollow-sounding beams, can all be signs of termite damage. If you’re serious about buying a property, you should think about getting a professional pest inspection.

It would be our recommendation as agents and also your Solicitor will most likely recommend that you purchase a professional pest and building report. A qualified inspector will be able to look at all these areas and provide a comprehensive report, so you know what you are dealing with. It will be a small outlay in cost during the purchase process but is priceless in providing you with peace of mind as you make one of the biggest purchases you may ever make.

Click here to watch Michael’s chat with Dave Dillon of Westinspect about pest and building reports:

Source – Information sourced from realestate.com.au