When making any purchase, people generally weigh up the decision by considering the pros and cons involved in buying the item. This is easy process when deciding which brand of rice to buy for dinner – maybe you look at cost, variety, packaging size, and brand reputation. You consider how important each of these elements are to you and make a decision. But what is the risk to you if you assess these elements incorrectly? If you misread the packaging and bought basmati instead of jasmine, well, it probably won’t cause you too much distress. But what if you buy the wrong house?
Buyer’s remorse is the sense of regret you feel after making a purchase. If you have ever walked away from a checkout counter wondering if the salesman got the best of you, thinking that you spent too much, or that the product isn’t actually good enough, you have experienced buyer’s remorse.
It is a common occurrence when purchasing “big ticket items”. From cellphones, to cars, to property, there are financial and lifestyle implications for the buyer. This makes it vital to make the right decision, and easy to regret the wrong decision. There is a huge amount of pressure put on these decisions, and for good reason. Buying the wrong cellphone could mean you are stuck with terrible battery life. The wrong car could guzzle fuel. The wrong house could turn into a money pit of repairs and maintenance, with terrible resale value.
The purpose of this article is not to deter you from buying your dream house. In fact, we will help you buy it with some classic advice that will stand you in good stead as you enter the property market. Read on and learn about five things you must consider before putting an offer on a home.
1. Consider the seller’s intentions
When considering a particular home purchase, you need to ask yourself why this house is on the market in the first place. It might simply be because the family has outgrown it, or a job opportunity has led to a relocation. But there could also be far more sinister reasons which might not be immediately obvious. The foundations might be damaged. There could be damp. The neighbours might be unbearable. Or there could be hidden pest infestations that would require pest control services to remove.
It can be difficult to get this information out of a buyer because they might say anything just to make the sale. This is further complicated by estate agents who are also after a big commission, trying to position the house as best as possible to lead you to make a high offer.
You should be sceptical of a particularly eager, over-positive seller – especially if they are dodging your questions. You don’t need to be rude, but try to be direct when querying the state of the house. Consider that they may be trying to hide something.
2. Look for signs of pests
In line with the advice above, it is important to know what to look for when you are looking beyond the obvious. Pest infestation can be incredibly hard to get rid of, can cause health problems, and are very common in apartment blocks. Unfortunately, they can also be hard to spot if you don’t know what to look for.
When you are viewing your potential home, take a close look around for potential nests between walls, under floorboards, and in the attic if there is one. Rodent nests will commonly include leaves, shredded paper, and grass. Cockroach nests tend to form near water in bathrooms and kitchens – check for reddish-brown smear marks on the tiles.
You should also look for droppings, grease marks and tracks. Damaged plants and furniture can also be a sign of pests gone wild, so check out leaves, sofas, and wooden furniture for teeth marks or insect trails.
3. Check for damp
Rising damp is caused when groundwater rises through the housing structure, for example through fissures or capillaries in bricks and masonry. It is not a very common occurrence, but does happen in some areas with high ground moisture levels due to underground water movement. You will be able to spot it inside the house by checking for decaying skirting boards and timber, and visible damp patches on walls. Black, green and white mould growth are also signs of rising damp, and peeling and blistering of wallpapers and paints. Outside the house, you can look out for discoloured walls, corroded brick and mortar, and powdery deposit of salts often visible on the surface of concrete, brick, or natural stone surfaces.
It is important to note though, that not all damp is rising damp. Penetrating damp is different, and is caused by roof leaks, structural damage, leaking plumbing lines, and defective waterproofing and seals. Penetrating damp can be easier to remedy than rising damage, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a deal breaker on a home purchase, but try get a clear idea of the kind of maintenance you are in for. Identifying and fixing leaking pipes inlaid into brick walls can be a challenging and expensive task!
4. Don’t forget the roof
It’s probably not that common for prospective homeowners to climb on the roof during an open-house – but perhaps it should be. While show-days and estate agent appointments are sure to cover the interior of the house in detail, it is the exterior that is exposed to the harshest conditions. Outside walls and roofing are likely to give you some important information about the structural integrity of the house and whether the current homeowner has put any effort into maintenance in recent years.
Firstly, look for curly edges or bulges in the paint, as well as mould. Also check for worn out spots and see if any shingles are missing – if so, then you can guess that the roof is old and the owner hasn’t made much effort to maintain it. Check that the roof has a proper drainage system and if you are really dedicated, look for signs of asphalt shingle grains in the gutters. If you find these grains, you will know that the shingles are deteriorating.
5. Think about the other costs involved
The offer you put on a house is probably going to be very different to what you actually end up spending before you get your new title deed. Think about what your budget is for a home, and remember to take into account the following easily-forgotten aspects:
- Deposit
- Initiation Fee
- Transfer Duty
- Transfer Costs
- Bond Registration Costs
- Occupational Rent
- Moving Costs
- Protecting your finances with a Home Warranty
- Home Owners and Life Insurance
- Contents Insurance
- Rates and Taxes
- Total Ownership Costs
Buying a home is a big investment, and it can be hard to make a good purchase if you don’t know what you are looking for. There are many other things to consider, but if you take into account these five elements, you can hopefully make a more informed purchasing decision that you wont regret down the line. Think about the seller’s intentions, check for pests and damp, look for tell-tale problems on the roof, and then double check your budget. This should put you on a path to a happy home.
Filed under : Pest Control