Purchasing a new home- a do it yourself checklist-Part One
Purchasing a new home- a do it yourself inspection checklist Part One
Every one of us at some time in our lives has thought about are gone ahead and purchased their own home and whilst there is a good chance it will be the most expensive item we ever purchase, for many of us it is a daunting prospect especially if we are buying an established home. We may have a picture in our heads of how many rooms or the size of the yard we are looking however we struggle to understand underlying issues with the property that in the future could cost us our hard-earned cash. How to look for faults and what to look for is a question we often get asked as most of us are unaware of the building inspection process.
I have put together a simple Checklist List that could help you save thousands of dollars down the track should you go ahead and purchase the property just like you would when planning your next holiday or buying a car. If you require the help of a professional building inspector, Australian Property Building Inspections (APBI) have Australian wide offices and easy to reach locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane along with other major cities in the country together with our team of building inspectors offer professional building experience that helps take the stress away from you. APBI was created for the home buyer to make an informed decision because APBI offers vital information on both defects and repair costs. If any of the items on the checklist below are an issue when inspecting yourself you are going to require a professional building inspector. APBI is the preferred choice of Building Inspection Reports for Foxtel’s Selling Houses.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
If you want to inspect the property yourself you need to take the following items with you.
- a ladder,
- a long shank screwdriver,
- a good torch and
- a power point tester (available most large hardware or electrical stores).
AT THE INSPECTION – WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Inside the property
For each room of the house where applicable check the following
Walls
- Check all walls are straight and true.
- Look for cracks and signs of movement and if you notice freshly painted or newly wallpapered areas.
- If the walls are brick check for signs of dampness.
- Tap solid brick walls for a hollow sound or a change in tone.
- If there are chimneys look for any cracks
- Any doorway or window that don’t sit straight, or jam
Timber Floors
- Jump lightly on the floor at various spots to detect any rotten floorboards or if the floor framing is weak in spots.
- Are the floors level, or do you notice any gaps between floor and skirting area.
Concrete Floors
- Does the floor lift or buckle or is the carpet rotten as this indicates dampness.
Ceilings
- Check that ceilings are straight and true, and look for cracks or signs of movement at the cornices.
- Do you notice any water stains or mould growth as this maybe from excessive condensation, perhaps blocked gutters, damaged walls or roof leaks.
Windows and Ventilators
- Check every window opens and do you notice and broken window panes.
- Check for excessive moisture or mould growth on or around the windows.
The next blog will discuss more areas on the checklist that should be looked at, but if the task seems too daunting or you are time poor, Australian Property Building Inspections can organise your pre purchase building report and/or a Pest Control Report easily affordable that may save you thousands in the long run and make that dream home a reality.