Would you spend just 20 minutes looking around a property that could potentially be your home for years to come? Probably not. If you want to make the best decision, then you have to make sure that you take your time and that you be as aware as possible. This will help you to pinpoint any potential problems while also giving you the chance to secure the home for a potentially lower price.
Damp
The first thing that you need to look out for is damp. The main giveaway for damp are watermarked walls, flaking plaster and the smell of mould. If you are not quite sure if a property has damp or not, then make sure that you look near to the ceiling and around the ceiling boards too. Another clue would be if the room has been repainted recently. People tend to do this in an attempt to cover damp, so make sure that you look out for that too.
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Structurally Sound
Big cracks are really what you should be looking for. Hairline cracks are to be expected, so don’t disregard a property just because you see things like this. If you are just not sure about a property, then your survey should be able to pick up on any issues on your behalf. If you haven’t arranged a mortgage yet, then Altrua Financial might be able to help.
Storage
Storage space is a very valuable asset but it is often overlooked. Think about it, where are you going to keep your vacuum cleaner? Linen? Boxes of junk? Do you have room for any shelves to be built-in? If not, then now could be time for you to start looking at another property because if you don’t then you may end up regretting your decision.
Which Way Does the Property Face?
In winter, it can be very difficult for you to know the difference between a north-facing garden and a south-facing garden. If you are an avid gardener, then you need to make sure that you take into account the direction of the house because if you don’t then your plants may protest and die. You may also find that your living room gets incredibly dull in summer because all of the light ends up being around the back of the house and this is the last thing that you need.
Rooms
It can be very easy to be distracted by the décor of a room. For this reason, you have to make sure that you pay attention to the size of the room and that you also take note of the furniture they have. For example, if they have a lot of small furniture then this might make the room look bigger than it actually is, and this is the last thing that you want when you actually need the space.
Viewing a property can be a fun and exciting experience, but you do have to make sure that you take into account the above tips if you want to get the best result out of each home. After all, a wise buyer is usually an observant buyer.