“Too good to be true” is an unfortunate but reality-accepting phrase and principle, and if we live by it, we can avoid naivety. However, in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to fail to heed caution – and that includes situations such as buying a new home.
When house hunting, it’s not always that easy. After all, house hunting is stressful. Most of the properties you look at are unlikely to be exactly what you’re looking for. Compromise tends to be necessary, and we haven’t even mentioned the person at the other side of your home sale, who may be snapping at your heels to move out as they want to move in and make good on their offer.
In these circumstances, especially if a house looks wonderful and just what you need on the surface, it’s easy to forgo the “too good to be true” ideal and dive into a house that may have faults. The worst and best part of all this is that now and again, you may really find a house that delivers on all fronts, and you have to contend with the nagging worry about forgoing that principle foolishly. What am I missing, you might think?
Well, in this post we’ll discuss some essential measures to check before moving into that wonderful new home. Keep to this logic, and we’re sure you’ll find some worth going forward.
Foundation Conditions
Of course, we don’t need to patronize you by telling you why strong foundations are important. But foundational shift is a real concern. It can render homes inhospitable. This is especially true if the house is built onto a hill with supports, has steep surroundings, or may be close to the seafront.
Have the land checked, make sure an inspector checks for subsidence, and inspect the garden quality. Any areas of concern, bring them up. It’s better to be a little nosy now than to buy a house literally cracking from its own platform.
Actual Property Borders
We tend to think of property borders as cut and dry. If you had two extra feet on your land, you’d claim it right? Well, not always. Property borders can sometimes be assumed or otherwise incorrectly measured.
For example, this might be based on existing fences or natural landmarks, but these can be misleading. The last thing you want is to purchase a home and later find out that the backyard you fell in love with partially belongs to a neighbour and they have the full right to construct a ghastly fence there.
Hiring a surveyor to ensure the exact borders of the property can prevent potential disputes. You’re not asking too much, you’re just double-checking what the seller is providing to you. Maybe they’ve asserted you own part of a local wood but you only own the entrance area. Maybe the homeowner will find out they own more land than they thought, and hey, you’ve done them a large favour there. Of course, you have to mention it – don’t find this out and then undercut them in the sale. At least, that’s what legal advice would recommend.
Damp & Rot
Sure, damp tends to smell if it’s bad enough. That doesn’t mean you’ll pick up on it during your viewing. These problems are often hidden, making them particularly insidious. Maybe a damp issue has just started and is rotting the attic but you didn’t notice that.
Of course, dampness can lead to mould growth, which isn’t just an aesthetic issue but can also pose serious health risks – especially to young people or elderly folk. Meanwhile, rot, particularly in wooden structures, can weaken key parts of the house, from flooring to roof beams. If you can stick your finger into the timber that constructs your attic and pull it out like wet clay, that’s hardly an encouraging sign.
That’s why hiring professionals for a thorough damp survey can be so helpful. Put simply, these individuals know exactly how and where to search for damp, where it’s most likely to hide, the warning signs of an issue, or even bad damp issues that have been half-heartedly covered up or “repaired.” This could save you thousands in repair costs as well as thousands of headaches going forward.
Extensions & Previous Renovations
Many homes on the market have undergone extensions or renovations, which can be a great selling point. However, statistically, not every renovation is going to be a winner, and not every homeowner will “improve” the property as opposed to shaping it in their image.
It’s good to ensure that any such work was carried out to a high standard and with the necessary permits. Unapproved work can not only cause headaches during resale but may also mean that the work wasn’t done to code. Without that code, potential safety risks could be present. Perhaps you’ll be forced to tear down a conservatory, for example, and that leaves you on the hook for a mistake someone else made. You may be able to pursue them for the costs, but that’s a hugely messy process and it’s best for a home inspector to just verify that before your purchase.
On top of that, you may find functionality you didn’t know about. Maybe it’s possible to get that water wheel in the river working again, perhaps you could restore that fireplace, or perhaps that attic could be renovated into a new place. As you can see, it’s not just about warning but more about spotting opportunities in the new house.
With this advice, we believe you’ll be able to check a few measures before moving into your new home. This way, even if it feels “too good to be true,” you’ll have done your homework and won’t be accused of naivety. Good luck!
