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Things to look for when House Hunting
Here are some tips that will help you check for potential Building and Structural problems while you are out House hunting.
In many cases where a Mortgage is involved your lending institution will insist on a Building Inspection before they will finalize your Loan, but even if they don’t Remember what I said before – Make it part of your subject clauses.
The last thing you want to do is to purchase your Dream Home and find out 6 to 12 months after you have moved in that it requires extensive renovations and you don’t have the funds.
This by no means eliminates the necessity for a proper Pre-purchase building inspection but could save you a lot of time.
Externally:–
- Be aware of garden beds close to the house
- Check for drainage problems ( Is the House Lower that the Ground Level)
- Beware of large trees close to the house
- Check Guttering and Downpipes are in good condition.
- Look for mildew or flaking paint on external walls
- Look for cracks in the external walls
If you are inspecting an older brick home look carefully for cracks that follow the course of the brickwork or if there is a change in mortar colour which could indicate a cracked cover up. This could be the sign of a major problem that will cost a lot to fix.
Now inside – keep an eye out for
- Floor Coverings that have damage on the edge of the skirting boards
- Polished Floors that have stains around the edge
- Cracks in the internal walls running from the ceiling.
- Doors and Windows that don’t open and close properly
- Showers and Taps that Leak
- Water Damage around kitchen benches & Cupboards
Houses on Stumps:–What are the Stumps,
- Concrete Steel or Timber
If you can walk under the house:-
- Are all the stumps straight
- Is the building sitting flat on the stumps or have packers (little slithers of timber or fibro) been used to level the floor.
- What is the condition of the bottom of the stumps
- Is there any water damage under the house
- Is there any sign of white ants? ( look for little trails of dirt on the stumps)
- Check under Kitchen and Bathroom area’s for water damage to the floor boards
When walking around a stumped house listen for creaking floor boards this indicates that something has moved below.
I know this is going to sound strange but even if you are purchasing a New Home you should still have a Pre-Purchase building inspection as i am sorry to say there are Plenty of Shoddy Builders Around.