Once you’ve bought your home there’s no easy way of going back. So, to avoid making a big mistake, here are six common property problems and advice on how to swerve them
House hunting can be a painstaking process. So, when you locate your ideal property it may be tempting to leap on the opportunity and seal the deal.
But whilst, on the surface, things may look utterly perfect – scratch the veneer and there may be certain issues which are hard to clear up further down the line.
Jamie Williams, a property expert from Pure Property Finances, has picked out six factors you should stop to consider before buying a property.
These potential red flags can also be helpful for those looking for a rental property as well as homebuyers.
So, before you sign on the dotted lines, here are a few questions to check you will not regret your home choice in the future.
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Can you get a mobile signal?
“There is nothing worse than moving into a new house, especially if you’re working from home, if you can’t make any calls or use your laptop at an appropriate speed,” said Williams.
The good news is, most phone websites now have software where you can enter your postcode and it’ll tell you how well the coverage will be, before you commit to signing any sort of contract.
Williams added: “This is something you need to check beforehand especially if you’re loyal to one specific network or you’re stuck in a phone contract for another year or two.”
Likewise, if you rely on having a decent broadband connection, make sure you check this out too.
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What are the noise levels like throughout the day?
Williams suggests, if you are interested in a particular property, make sure you drive by at different times of the day to check out the noise levels.
“If you’re someone that doesn’t like the loud noises at night, take a late-night drive to see if there are any neighbourhood parties that go on that may irritate you,” he added.
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Are there any signs of damp and mould?
Don’t be afraid to take a closer look for the signs of damp and mould. Williams suggests looking behind furniture, near windows and in the corners of the ceilings.
He warned, homeowners may have tactically placed furniture around the room to hide damp – so it may not be immediately obvious.
“Damp can be pretty hard to get rid of,” Williams added, “and when you get rid of it, there may be an underlying problem that can be pretty costly to fix.”
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Is there natural light and in what rooms does it fall?
As with noise levels, it’s not always obvious from one or two viewings, how light the rooms will be at different times of the day.
Williams said: “Light is known to affect the overall mood and even how large and spacious a place can feel. Plus, on a hot day, you’ll want the sun to shine through to decrease any heating bills.
“Take a look at which ways the windows face and how much daylight is in each room and any blockers such as trees that may come from outside.”
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Is there sufficient storage?
Is the home slightly cluttered? This could be a red flag, warned Williams
He explained: “If you’re noting a lot of objects around the house that you think should be in some sort of cupboard, then you need to ask yourself, is there enough storage here?
“Having things such as shoe racks out of cupboards and coats on the backs of doors can be a sign of not having enough storage space.”
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Is it a good neighbourhood?
With house prices so high, many people are moving to homes in areas with which they are unfamiliar to afford a home. But how do you know if it’s suitable for you?
“If you’re new to a town and city completely and you don’t have much information on the area,” said Williams, “then it would be good to join the local community groups on Facebook to get a rough feel.
“Are people talking about cars being stolen? Are people talking about gangs late at night?
“I’m also sure that neighbours wouldn’t mind if you knocked on their doors to ask a couple of questions, although keep in mind that they might be bias towards the area.”
