Finding your dream home is an exciting period of time, and comes with a lot of hassle and tasks to be completed before you can exchange contracts and move in. If you want to be sure that you are getting the best value for your money, and you don’t have to face with unexpected emergencies and repairs right after you have moved, it is important that you check the condition of the property, the neighbourhood, and other issues that can cost you a lot of headache and money. Find out more below.
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Structure and Foundation
The most important thing you have to be aware of is how solid the building is. If your surveyor company doesn’t provide this service, you might want to switch. When completing the property checks, some companies will simply say that there is no evidence that there has been a land movement or damage. This is simply not good enough. You need to know that your walls are strong enough to support a full remodelling or an extension, in case you are thinking long term and want to avoid household problems.
Electrical, Plumbing, and Heating System
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Next, you will have to check the electrical system’s condition. When you move into a house that used to be owned by an older couple, you might find that the wires and the fuse box cannot support all your appliances. At the same time, the heating system needs to be tested, so you don’t end up with a huge bill or an emergency repair in the middle of the winter. Your plumbing is equally important, and you can contact your local utility company to give you a report. Alternatively, you can order a pre-purchase drain survey to find out whether there are any problems you need to fix right now.
Energy Efficiency
Every property on the market now comes with an EPC rating. If you get the full report, you can find out what you can improve to lower your bills and keep everyone comfortable inside when you move in. You can obtain a copy of the report from your estate agent, or the company that carried out the assessment.
Ground Charges
One of the things that potential buyers often miss in the small print is the information related to ground charges. If you buy your property as a freehold, there shouldn’t be any, but sometimes you might assume that there are no charges and indeed a part of your property is on someone else’s land. In rural areas, you might even have chancel liability that means you will have to pay towards the maintenance or repair of the local church.
Neighbourhood
To avoid disappointment, you need to talk to neighbours and friends about your move, and check out the facilities nearby, as well as the crime rates. Introduce yourself to people living on the same street, to find out whether or not they are likely to keep themselves to themselves or cause issues.
Before signing the dotted line, make sure that you check the home and get a complete survey conducted. Also do remeber to check epc ratings
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