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Things You Shouldn’t Forget When Viewing a Property
Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. Not only in value but in importance. Yet, people commonly spend about 20-30 minutes walking around a house, once maybe twice before committing to a purchase. Needless to say, it is important to put that time to good use because regardless of how good your conveyancing solicitors are there are some things that even they cannot overcome should you miss them. So here is a checklist of things to look out for when viewing your next home.
Damp
You should always be mindful of signs of dampness when looking over a property. The main culprits of dampness are a mouldy smell, watermarked walls or ceiling, black spots and flaky plaster. Some of the most common places to find dampness are around the skirting boards and on the ceilings.
Storage
Storage space is commonly overlooked when buying a house but it can prove to be one of the home’s greatest features. Having ample storage space is a must, where will you keep your vacuum cleaner? Towels? Toys and other bits and pieces? Are there built-in wardrobes, cupboards or shelves? If not, is there plenty of space to add your own?
Orientation
A house’s orientation is another key element that you might not think important until you have lived on the property. How the house is facing will affect how much sunlight you get, where you get it and what part of the day. This can make all of the difference in the summer months and could be the difference between your home being filled with natural light or cool, dark and shaded. For sun lovers, south-facing gardens will mean that you have the sun on your garden and rear of the house pretty much all day. If you like a bit of shade however then you may feel more comfortable opting for a north or east-facing garden, which should benefit from the morning sun and become more shaded as the day passes by and heats up.
Is the roof in good order?
The roof of your home should never be overlooked as replacing it can be an extremely costly affair that is unlikely to be covered by home insurance. A roof inspection may be covered in the surveys you undertake but you should always pay special attention to the roof when viewing your property and don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise any defects or concerns.
The building’s structure
Equally as important as the roof is ensuring the building is structurally sound. That is not to say you should be worried about every hairline or superficial crack but alarm bells should start to ring should there be visibly big cracks or cracks that look to have been filled or otherwise disguised. Bay windows and ageing extensions could be particularly prone to cracks and are always worth a closer inspection. Should you have any concerns regarding cracks you may have seen then be sure to raise these with the surveyor who carries out the surveys you undertake.
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