What you Should Look for When Buying a House
There has been a huge rise in people looking to buy a new home in the UK recently – whether you are fed up of your current home, feel that you have outgrown the property or have the opportunity to work from home so can live further away from the city – there are many reasons for why now is a good time to move house.
Once you have decided to move, it is time to start looking around houses – remember that as well as buying the house itself, you should ensure that you factor in the other costs involved with buying a house speak to estate agents and companies like this building survey Birmingham based company Sam Con as well as removals companies to get an idea of costs if you are not sure what they will be.
When it comes to actually viewing a property, there are some things that you will want to keep an eye out for to make sure that you reduce your risk of having additional expenses in the form of things that need repairing when you move in. Here are some of the common things to look out for when viewing a property…
For some people the direction that the house faces is important as it will determine how much sun you get into your garden. If you are a keen gardener or want a garden that gets sun for most of the time this will be something that is important to you. A south facing garden is preferential if this is what you are looking for, it is worth taking a compass with you if you are unsure of the direction. Also look out for surrounding trees that might block sunlight out from your garden.
Speaking of trees, it is also worth looking for them close to your house as they can sometimes cause trouble. Deciduous trees near the house can drop leaves in the autumn months which can block the gutters, and also trees can be blown down in a storm which could cause damage to the roof.
Something else that you should be on the lookout for is damp. This can sometimes be hard to spot but can be an expensive nightmare to get rid of so it is worth knowing the things to look for that indicate the house could have a damp problem. A mouldy smell is one sign but often this can be un-noticed due to air fresheners or other smells in the house. Look for flaky plaster, and watermarks on the walls and ceilings.
It is also important to look beyond the house to the general area surrounding it. Does it have the things that will suit your needs? What are the local schools like and the other amenities? Is it on a good public transport route if you need to use it?