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Buying a home is a huge decision and one that will likely impact you and your family for the rest of your life. Most potential homeowners don’t have a lot of experience with buying homes or how to evaluate properties, so it can be a little daunting for most.
Luckily, there are a lot of simple ways through which you can evaluate whether or not a home is the right fit for you. Other than your personal preferences, make sure you also check the following things before buying a property.
Water Damage
Water damage is one of the most expensive things to repair in any kind of building. Even if you are buying a property that is far from any water body, water damage is still possible. You want to closely examine the roof, walls, floors, and especially the basement for any signs of water damage. This can be caused due to poor insulation, high moisture levels, or faulty plumbing. If you see any signs of water damage have an expert look into it further to see how bad it really is. If there is major damage, then your best option is to look for something else.
Structural Integrity
It’s not only water that can ruin the structural integrity of a home. In some cases, the building is simply not built right, in other cases, natural events such as hurricanes and earthquakes have compromised the structure of the building. Homes in areas that are closer to water have more of these problems. It’s always a good idea to hire a local company, for example, a building inspector in Adelaide, Perth, or Bendigo. If you do so, you’ll be making sure that you’re getting a proper analysis of the building. If the inspector gives you a red flag, this is something you want to stay away from.
Direction
The direction in which your home is facing plays a vital role for many homeowners in the southern hemisphere, North-facing homes get the most amount of light throughout the year. If you have windows in the right areas this can completely change the way the house looks and feels. Especially in the winter, you will have a lot more light and warmth, and in the summer you will have more light throughout the day, as well. Having your home face the right direction can help you reduce energy costs significantly and help get a better price later on if you plan to sell or rent out the property.
When looking for a home make sure you don’t get distracted by fancy fittings and colorful decorations. A lot of realtors will decorate the home, touch up paint, and even install fancy fixtures and fittings to gain the attention of clients and make the home appear better than it really is. Some will do it simply to beautify the space, but others might be trying to cover up weaknesses and divert your attention. When looking at any property make sure you are focused on the bare essentials and the critical parts of the structure more than how aesthetically pleasing it is.