A Property Inspection Checklist

Deciding on buying a home and then spending every free weekend moment traipsing from property to property can be a little daunting, especially for a first time buyer. Checking out houses is about so much more than whether the kitchen is big enough to throw that dinner party you’ve been dreaming of throwing but couldn’t as your flat had no space for anything other than a microwave and a toaster or whether the garden is full of red roses in bloom.

The last thing you need a month or two after you’ve moved into your beautiful new home is that the roof leaks, there’s a problem with the wiring or that the bizarre black fluff in the bathroom is actually poisonous mould. When looking at a house there are a few essential elements that you need to keep in mind. This article will cover a few of the more prevalent items that should be on your property inspection checklist.

Inside the Home

Make sure that you check each and every single room in the house – you don’t want sneaky surprises once you’ve signed the contract. Here are a few of the major points as far as checking the interior of your prospective house goes.

It is important that you check the ceilings for lose plaster, stains, cracks and signs of pervious repair. They could be indicators of shoddy workmanship or water damage. The walls also need to be carefully inspected for the same indications.

In the kitchen and bathroom you can check for water pressure problems by turning a couple of taps on at once – if when you do this it sounds as if an exorcism is occurring in the pipes… something is wrong.

Window and door frames are an important point on the checklist – especially if they are wood, as they are difficult to maintain and rather costly to replace if they are beyond repair. Check that the doors and windows don’t stick at the same time, also make sure that all the locks work.

When it comes to floors, check the condition and age of carpets (smell them too – you don’t want to move into the cat ladies house and have to live with a constant reminder of her furry friends). The amount of broken or cracked tiles needs to be taken into consideration as well, replacing one or two tiles is manageable – replacing 90% of them could get rather costly.

In the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens check the cupboards. If the doors are coming off or there is a funny damp smell coming from them you may want to reconsider. Mould in the bathrooms, or rust anywhere in or outside the house also need to be noted.

Outside the Home

Scan the property for large trees near the sides of the house or on the perimeter next to the fences and road. Should the roots begin to push up you will be responsible for the costs of repairing the situation. If the garden slopes towards the house the potential for water to flow into your home is higher, depending on the type of climate you live in this could be a huge consideration. Try and spot areas where drainage may be a problem and whether water is being trapped by flower beds next to the house. If you’re the gardening type have a look at the quality of the soil – good indicators of bad soil would be the lack of vegetation or unhealthy looking plants, an oily residue in the soil or fine sand rather than rich loam.

Another consideration is the fence and or wall around the property, if safety is a big factor for you (which I am sure it is) you will want to pay careful consideration to the amount of security the fence brings to the home – if you’re not happy with it you will have to invest more money in the property once you have moved in to better the situation – and we all know that fences and electrified gates can get quite expensive. Also make sure you take a look at all the gutters to make sure they are all in good condition and carrying water away from your house.

On a final note check out the quality of the garage - whether you are planning to set up an extra room, give your power tools a place to live or even store your car you are going to want to make sure that it is roomy enough for you intentions that it doesn’t leak and is well secured. Wooden garage doors should be inspected for decay – it’s not easy to keep wooden exterior doors looking tip top especially when they’ve been neglected for a few years.

While this list may give you a better idea of what you should be looking for (and the things you need to be running away from) it is always a good idea to get a professional in if you are serious about buying a specific property. A full inspection usually takes a minimum of two hours and the expert will check the house for structural problems, plumbing issues, electrical, geyser and roofing issues as well as any unusual faults. Once they are finished they will give you a list of the problems as well as give you estimates on the amount of money you would need to fix them from here you can make an informed choice as to whether it is financially viable to purchase the house.

Remember that laws differ from country to country where buying property is concerned. Some countries demand that an electrical certificate of compliance or a bug check, or even a fault line check are conducted before you can buy a property. Make sure that you are well informed as to what to ask your realtor as far as these are concerned.