First time home ownership can be challenging when you have no experience in the process involved in home inspections and the many issues surrounding it. If you are like so many people out there who are interested in buying your first home we recommend that you consult an expert to help you go through even aspect of a house you are considering before making a offer.
Aside from asking how old the house is, it is fairly important to inspect the property to make sure it aligns with all the specifications you are looking for in a home.
To get you started, we have rounded up a list of 10 things you can consider before becoming a homeowner.
1. Exterior
First things first, check the outside of the house and make sure it is both structurally sound by checking for cracks in the outer walls and that all parts are in working condition including the roof, gutters, water drainage, walkways, driveways, landscaping, deck, and porch.
If large cracks are found then foundation damage may be the cause. Consider an inspection by an experienced restumping specialist and consider the cost of restumping the home into the price you are willing to pay for a new home.
2. Electrical Panel
Imagine a home without electricity and you may as well be living in a tent. Having an easy to access electrical panel that is well organised and clean is a priority.
The electrical panel must be clean, labeled and the wires must be organised. If there are loose wires hanging around have it checked with an electrician to avoid getting grounded with live wires.
3. Faucets
Running water is the next most important feature to a home. The faucets across the house must be working well and to check this you have to turn it on and make sure the water is flowing down smoothly. This is also one way to check if there is rust in the pipes coming out of the water.
Make sure both hot and cold water flow smoothly and that there is a large enough tank to provide the amount of hot water you’ll need every day. Larger families or those who prefer good, long, hot showers will use more hot water per day.
4. Drains
Second to faucet are the drains, this may get overlooked at times but checking the drains in the kitchen and bathrooms is a no brainer and must be done to ensure that this doesn’t become a repeated household issue in the future.
Fill up the tubs and sinks and allow them to drain to see if they are in good working order. Make sure there is easy access to drain pipes underneath kitchen sinks and that the pipes show no signs of corrosion or rust.
5. Toilets
Toilets that can flush well and can handle toilet paper are something most cannot live without. When toilets need replacement or repair it can be a big, inconvenient and expensive job.
Double or triple check all the toilets in the house for how well they flush, how long it takes to fill back up and any lingering noise issues they may present.
6. Windows
Windows are very important both to the look of the house and to heat and cold insulation. Have all windows checked before deciding to purchase the house.
Find out if they’re still in good condition, if they have a level of sound proofing in urban areas or over flight paths, that they insulate the home well and if they look old try to check it and make sure it doesn’t get stuck when you open and close it.
7. Carpet
Before moving in, pull the carpet back to see if there is any mold or mildew underneath especially when the floor is made with hard wood. This can be a good indicator of the foundation of the home.
If mold is present check to see if there are any water leaks around the area and that they are fixable.
8. Heater /Aircon
Two things that can make all the difference in the harsh Australian climate. If the home you are looking at has these two, they must work excellently and be able to reach the expected temperature quickly and maintain it until turned off.
If they are not present in the home see if there is space available to install them if you so choose in the future.
9. Ceilings, Walls and Floors
Inspect and examine the ceilings, walls and floors and look for areas which may possibly have leaks. Cracks on walls may indicate structural damage that need special attention in order to prevent bigger damages in the future.
Cracks can be cause by slippage in the foundation, local soil movement or a combination of both. A professional reblocker can check to see if the foundation is up to scratch or if you need to replace wooden stumps with concrete stumps to increase stability.
10. Room to Grow
You may not think you need extra space now but plans can change quickly and a home is a big investment. When purchasing a home consider the fact that you will be living there for either the rest of your life or a good portion of it.
If you plan on growing your family make sure there are enough rooms for everybody and enough space to have some quite time to yourself if needed. If you entertain or enjoy hobbies that need extra space make sure you have it available to continue to live the life you enjoy.
There you have it, DJ Baker & Son’s top 10 list of things to consider when looking at purchasing a new home. This is by no means an exhaustive list and everybody has different areas that are most important to them when it comes to where they live.
