6 Things to Look for When Buying a Home

Buying a home is the most fun part of your home-moving journey. There are lots of different types of property to choose from and the best way to create a short list of things you want in your new home is to keep an open mind and see several that you like the look of. However, there are six things that you need to look for when buying a new home so bear that in mind while you are shopping for your new residence.

Neighbourhood

You can change the appearance of your home internally, apply for planning permission, and give your garden such a revamp that your sellers wouldn’t recognize it six months later. The one thing you can’t do with the house you buy is change the neighbourhood. Therefore, it is best to make sure that you like the area before you look for your new home there. Drive around the area and check out amenities such as local shops, nearest pubs, bus routes, commute to work, and the reputation of the neighbourhood. Don’t start looking for properties in the area until you are sure you will enjoy living in the neighbourhood; otherwise, you may want to move again quite quickly, and this could be costly. Additionally, if you're considering purchasing a home in Florida, exploring financing options like a DSCR loan Florida can help you make a well-informed decision regarding your new home investment.

Potential

The décor may not be to your style but if you want to put your own stamp on the property then you may want to change its interior anyway. Don’t get too hung up on the wallpaper, carpets, or furnishings as these things are easy to change. Instead, think about what you could do to the property to make it more to your liking and make your mark on it.

Projects

If you are looking for a property that you can do up and you are good at DIY, then there are bargains to be had in the housing market. However, if you are buying a home at the top of your budget and you are then going to have to do a lot of work to the property, you will quickly run out of money. Consider what projects you will need to undertake if you buy the property. Redecorating tends to be reasonably cheap, and most people can attempt painting and decorating themselves. However, projects such as changing or adding bathrooms and renovating the kitchen can be more expensive. Knocking down walls and electrical work are best left to the professionals who will charge you for their expertise.

Visible Problems

You will need to instruct a surveyor to make sure that the property is sound, there are no major issues, and it is worth the money you are paying for it. However, a surveyor will charge you a fee for doing this, and being alert when you first view a property can save you from having to pay money on a survey when you won’t go ahead with the purchase.

As you view the property, look for any signs of mould or damp, which is especially noticeable around windows and above showers. This can be costly to repair. Watermarks are easy to spot, and these can indicate plumbing issues. Take a look at the boiler and windows to make sure that they are in good condition and that you won’t need to replace these as soon as you move in.

Noise

Listen to what you can hear as you go around the property. That way you can get an idea of the noise that will be around you if you move in. The garden or driveway can be the best place to assess this as you will be hearing outside noise at its loudest. Good double glazing can mask a lot of noise in the winter but if you want to have your windows open in the summer the outside noise is likely to be louder.

Mobile Signal

This isn’t the first thing that people think about when viewing a potential new home, but it will be one of the most important if you go ahead with the purchase. Mobile phone signals vary depending on the area and house. You don’t want to find yourself living in a mobile black spot if you are going to be working from home a lot so take out your mobile and check the signal as you view properties.

Bear these factors in mind when you view potential properties to buy and they will help you to decide which one you want to buy. They could also save you from making any costly mistakes.