Buying a new house is an enormous investment that’s why it’s vital to be aware of any signs of danger before you part with your money which is why our checklist for house inspections can help.
This guide will help you recognize the issues that a house could be hiding from you as well as showing you the best way to identify the advantages of a house that other viewers may not have noticed, our house inspection checklist will provide you with all the pointers you need to make sure that when you do make an offer on the ideal home, you’ll be confident in your decision.
If you decide to buy the property, we would strongly recommend that you obtain an inspection of the building prior to making such a huge investment. This is especially relevant when you’re planning to purchase a renovation project and/or period home.
1. What is the general condition for the House?
The first thing to do is. Before you step in the building take a step back and look over it for possible issues.
While we’ll discuss more depth about this, there are several simple checks you can do in the beginning when looking at the property:
Are there any huge visible cracks in the render or brickwork?
Does the roof look in good condition?
Are the windows straight and the glass are they in the right place?
Are there any signs of damp? For example, tide marks or peeling paint marks on your walls?
Does the chimney look straight?
Are the rainwater products in good order or are they damaged or unusable?
A building survey will inevitably assist you in determining whether cracks should be worried about, should you come to buy the property. Keep in mind that the survey for a building differs from a mortgage valuation survey . It is intended to provide an overall overview of the condition of the house.
2. Is it in a Good location?
It’s a test you can make before you visit the property. Presumably you will already recognize the general location a house is located prior to viewing it but do take some time to look at the local schools, services, transport routes, and such.
Also, take an glance at the properties that are adjacent to yours If you’re planning to build an extension or modifications that could require planning approval, it may be beneficial to see what’s been done to nearby houses in order to get an idea of what local planners are willing to accept.
“It’s important to also check the price of properties sold within the area. If you’re planning to take on major work in renovation and/or an extension, would you be able to afford the work together with the cost that you pay for your property surpass the ceiling value of the street or for the entire area?” starts Claire Lloyd, Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating.
“If this will be your “forever home”, then this may not matter to you. If you do plan to sell soon, you’ll need to make sure that this purchase can help you step up on the ladder to property ownership and not put your equity in a negative position.”
3. The Planning History Like?
That brings us right back to planning history. A quick look at the section on planning on your local council website will reveal all planning applications submitted on the property along with their outcomes.
This is helpful when the house, in its current state will not be sufficient for you and you would require an extension to meet your needs, yet several applications for extensions have so far been turned down, this may not be the right home for you.
4. Is There Scope to extend?
With planning permission in place If not, is the property feasible for an extension? There is enough space around the property to allow for an extension, or has it already been extended beyond its limit?
Even if there is space in the garden to extend into, would this leave you with a home that is all home and not a garden?
It’s helpful to show the layout of the house to the architect or designer- they are likely to have the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that you wouldn’t think of.
If you’re planning on the extension, it’s a good idea to carry out drainage survey before you purchase the property — this will let you know the location of the drains which could have implications on how and where you can expand.
“A drainage survey can aid in determining whether there are any current issues which require attention (such as cracked drainage pipes or drains that are not properly connected),” says Homebuilding and Renovating’s Editor Claire Lloyd.
“Some issues are relatively cheap to put right, while others can cost thousands of dollarswhich should be reflected in the price you pay for the property.”
5. Is Off Road Parking Off Road?
Although many people don’t feel the need to have off-road parking, it really is so useful — particularly for families with young pet or children.
Have a think too about where visitors will park in the event that they decide to stay. If you plan on having work done you should think about where you will put a dumpster or large deliveries.
Even if there’s no off-road parking currently could it be possible to create a new driveway and make an application to the local council to construct an unfinished kerb?
6. What condition What Condition is your Roof in?
This is a vital check as repairing roofing can be expensive for businesses.
Externally, the signs of roof damage could include cracked tiles, broken or missing tiles as well as damaged and missing flashings. It is also important to look for crumbling or missing pointing on the verges and the absent underfelt.
If you’re evaluating a house for improvement You should be looking for indications of leaks since this could also indicate an underlying roof structure that has in some way been compromised.
The severity of the damage as well as the long it’s been in such a state will determine the amount it will cost to set the right thing in place. While replacing just a few roof tiles isn’t going to cost much (a couple of hundred pounds would cover it) severe damage may lead to the roof’s entire covering has to be removed and be repaired — a process which will run well into the PS1,000s.
If the roof has collapsed into the rooms below then you’ll need to account for the costs of the installation of new ceilings.
7. Are the bricks in good Condition?
In addition to the exterior inspections keep an eye out for signs of damage to brickwork.
Cracked or missing mortar in the joints could require repointing. While you’re there look at the chimney -is it sturdy or is it positioned in an angle?
“Is that the chimney, or the flaunching (the mortar on which the chimney is set) broken? If so, this could cause an issue with damp. Both are easy to fix, based on how easily accessible the chimney is, but are tasks you must include in your renovation budget,” says Homebuilding & Renovating’s Editor Claire Lloyd.
If the property is demolished in a state of decay, look for crackssmall cracks are often easily fixed, while larger cracks that are more threatening could indicate structural movement.
8. What was the method of construction for the house?
Examining the method of construction used to construct the house is beneficial because of a number of reasons.
In the first place, if your house was built using solid walls and traditional materials like lime render, then you will have to make sure you choose appropriate materials that are breathable to repair any damage to prevent condensation or damp problems.
The walls of solid construction are also harder to insulate than cavity wall (more frequent in homes constructed after WWII).
It is important to discover the kind of foundations your house is built on as well. Some older houses were built with hardly any foundations and this could cause problems in regards to the extension of the building or adding extra floors.
Additionally, it is difficult to secure a loan on a property that was built with non-standard construction. This is often flagged on the estate agent’s details soliciting cash offers only.
9. Will Windows and Doors Need Replacing?
Check windows, doors and other joinery elements on the outside of houses for sale Burnley including fascia boards, to see if there are signs of damage and rot.
Smaller areas of decayed timber can often be replaced and window repair is definitely a preferable option compared to replacement. But, if the windows are in need of repair, it is worthwhile to replace them on a like-for-like basis to ensure that the look of the home isn’t destroyed.
If the doors and windows have, at some stage removed and replaced with ugly versions You might want to think about the expense for making new replicas of originals.
10. Are There any signs of Damp?
When you are inside Check for signs of damp. Some indicators of damp are:
A “fusty” damp smell
Damp patches and mould on the walls
White salt deposits appear on the brickwork
Crumbling plaster on walls and ceilings
Painting and wallpaper peeling
Wet or dry Rot
It is important to understand that older homes do tend to have damp issues . These can be fixed in most cases.
11. Has There Been any Structural Movement?
This is a huge issue. Although structural movement and subsidence aren’t always a cause for concern but you must know what you’re likely face before purchasing an investment property.
When you’re looking at houses take note of the following:
Cracks in doors and windows
Cracks that traverse several bricks (as opposed to stress cracks in plaster or a single bricks)
Lintels that collapse
Doors and windows which are stuck to their frames
Floors that are not even or damaged
If you suspect subsidence , it is vital that you get an expert out to look at the property -they’ll be able to give you advice on the severity of the issue, and also whether expensive repairs or underpinning is likely to be needed.
12. Will a Rewire be Required?
Rewiring a home will cost around PS3,000 for a three bedroom terraced house so it is essential to determine whether or not this is a job that will be on the cards for the house you are taking a look at.
A vintage fuse box, vintage light switches, fabric-coated electrical flex and the round-pin plugs all giveaways.
13. Will a New Heating System be Needed?
If the home in question is heated by a central system (some period homes in need of renovation won’t), do check whether it’s in need updating or replacing.
Lack of radiators as well as the presence of storage heaters or electric heaters is a clear indication that there isn’t any central heating. Even if there is an heating system, be sure to determine whether the boiler is old — you may well require a new one.
Older, less efficient radiators may require a refresh, and it’s worth planning for the replacement of the radiators.
14. What’s the Loft like?
Check out the loft. Even if you’re not planning on a loft conversion to a loft, knowing the condition it’s located in is essential.
To ask questions, you can include the following: Does it have ample storage? Is it well-insulated? Is there safe access?
If the home does not have a loft, how much storage space is there in the rest of the house? Maybe there’s an outbuilding built for a specific purpose or garage? Don’t underestimate the quantity of storage space you could need.
15. Are there large Trees in the vicinity?
Although trees can be gorgeous in the garden, take a minute to check whether any large trees could present problems in the future. Could they block the light source, for example?Large trees in close proximity may have a structural impact on the structure of the home.
Also, if you are contemplating an extension to your property, which could mean that trees nearby need to be felled, check whether there are any Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) in place to hinder your ability to complete the task.
16. Is it Liveable?
In the end, while it’s easy to get beautiful about homes which require renovation, ask yourself whether it is feasible to live on site when work is being done.
If cold weather strikes and you are shivering in a cold room, without heat or water, surrounded by construction sites that you don’t like, you could regret the choice to build a camp.
If your house isn’t livable, you’ll need to think about where you’ll stay while construction is in progress and include costs in this.