House Hunting Tips

There’s a lot to consider when buying a new home. Is it wise to buy a property on an ancient burial ground? Is the strange cat lady next door peering over the fence going to be a problem? And did the estate agent just quietly mutter something about a proposed motorway at the end of the garden?

If you’re new to this house hunting lark, here are some of our tips on what to look out for and what to ask when viewing a potential new home.

THE PROPERTY

Size

‘Yes, our sofa can fit in here.’ But does this home have growing room to adapt to your life in the future? You’re not just buying for now, even if this is just a property stepping stone to your forever home, is there scope to add value?

Energy Rating

All properties going for sale must have an energy rating, this tells you how efficient they are for things like heat loss. The higher the rating (A – G), the lower your energy bills will be.

Mould

Mould can be a sign of larger and most likely expensive problems. Check walls and ceilings for damp spots or peeling paper. Don’t forget to check behind large furniture as these can be masking issues too and use your nose, if you can’t see it, you may smell it.

Cracks

Cracks on plaster or between brickwork can be an indication of structural issues or water ingress. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, take photos and ask a friendly builder or more experienced property hunter in the family for their opinion.

Plumbing

Test taps for hot water and pressure. Water pressure can be very hard to remedy and a dodger/old boiler could be an extra expense you can’t afford to take on.

Maintenance

Does it look well maintained? Look for leaky guttering, bad glazing, general signs of neglect or dodgy DIY. Unless you have a ‘DIY dad’ or are able to get hands on yourself, it might not be the right place for you.

Doors & Windows

Another potential future cost. Check if double glazing units have ‘blown’ (you’ll see water or moisture inside the unit, between the two panels), are they secure and working properly, can you feel air coming in around the edges?

Historic Prices

Is the asking price a fair value? Sites like RightMove allow you to view historic property prices, as well as seeing how much the property you’re interested at last sold for, you can see which houses on the street sold most recently and how much they went for.

THE LOCATION

Evening Recce

What might appear calm and peaceful when viewed at 11am might be different later in the day. Take a quick drive by in the evening or at rush hours to check for how busy the parking is, is it congested at rush hour, are there noisy periods you’d rather not live with, etc.

Amenities

What do you need nearby? Parks, dog walks, good schools. Some information might be on the property listing but if this is a long term home it’s worth spending a little time checking out the local facilities and get a feel for the neighbourhood.

Parking

How many cars does your household need to park? Do you have a drive/allocated parking spaces? Some streets can get crowded at the end of a busy day.

Transport

Factor in any required public transport, it’s not just the distance to the nearest station, how much will they season ticket cost if you have to commute and will that add to your monthly bills?

Direction

If a garden is important, check the direction for the best sunlight. Those evening sitting in the garden enjoying the sun could well be overshadowed by neighbouring buildings.

New Builds

If your property is a new build, how many more houses are coming? Even though yours is completed, it doesn’t mean there aren’t more coming which could mean heavy traffic and noisy construction going on if you’re working from home.

WHAT TO ASK

Why are the current owners selling?

You’re not asking for their life story but there might be something in the answer that could hail a red flag.

How long has it been on the market?

If it isn’t selling, there may be a reason. Are you could find there’s a deal to be had to get it sold.

What’s included?

Are any other the white goods staying in the property? Are there fitted appliances that they’re actually planning on taking with them, leaving a hole in what will be your new kitchen? Are they planning on leaving anything behind that you’ll be left to get rid of?

Have the sellers found a new property?

You’ll get an idea of how long the chain is and how fast/slow the sale will take to complete.

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