Property: The vital checks you should make before buying a home – from damp to plumbing

Martin Roberts discusses the rise in house prices

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According to Home Owners Alliance, the majority of prospective buyers spend just 20 minutes looking round a new property when a more thorough inspection should be conducted. Experts have offered some top tips on what to focus on during a house viewing. 

Ensuring a property is structurally sound is vital – while browsing a home, keep a look out for any large cracks in the walls, paying close attention to extensions, end-of-terrace walls and bay windows.

Should any large cracks in the walls be discovered, the homeowner or estate agent should be able to offer some important details, while a chartered surveyor will conduct a more thorough inspection.

A surveyor will identify any repair work required, while a report produced at the end of an inspection will highlight any problem areas which should be taken into consideration.

There are a range of surveys which can be carried out, and it is usually the buyer who is responsible for arranging such an inspection.

Roof maintenance

Maintaining the roof on a property is crucial, so it’s important to find out how old the roof is, and the condition it is in. Newer roofs often last for around 15 to 20 years.

Damp

Common tell-tale signs of damp usually include detecting a mouldy smell, watermarked walls, ceilings, or flaking plaster.

Close attention should be paid to the ceiling and around the skirting boards, while other signs indicating damp issues could be a newly painted room.

Undetected damp can involve costly bills further down the line, so identifying any problems early on is key.

Testing the floorboards is another way to identify damp – if they feel spongy, it could be a sign that moisture has seeped through and rotted the wood below.

Natural light

Identifying if a property or its garden is south facing can be easily identified during the summer months, but can be more difficult in winter, or on an overcast day.

Experts at Home Owners Alliance have suggested taking a compass during house viewings to help determine which one would apply.

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Room space

Ensuring the rooms in a house are a sufficient size is a key factor for many homeowners.

Visualising where your belongings could be placed is a practical technique to gauge if the rooms are a good size.

A loft can often provide a useful space, so it’s worth considering if it can undergo a conversion it hasn’t already been renovated.

Storage

While storage space may not be the overriding factor when buying a property, it is worth identifying potential areas where household objects, such as a vacuum cleaner or bath towels, can be kept. In properties, like new-builds, storage can be limited, so buyers should look out for spaces which will provide a practical purpose.

Good plumbing 

Important questions to ask about the plumbing include whether the pipes have been insulated and to check they are not lead, which would require being replaced, according to Home Owners Alliance. 

Is also a good idea to test the water pressure by running the taps and to find out how old the boiler is.

If a hot water tank is located in the roof, chances are it is old and may need replacing.

Surrounding area

It is useful for house buyers to have a look at the surrounding area when viewing a property to ensure it will accommodate their needs, such as transport links, schools, shops or restaurants.

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