4 Things to Consider Before Buying a New Home

Buying a new home is an exciting time, but it can be extremely nerve wracking, no matter how many times you have moved house! You need to make sure that the house you’re moving into is safe, and whether or not it needs additional work before you can move in. As you are going to be living in this new home for a while, you also need to make sure that it is suitable for you and your family’s needs. To check for areas of damp in your home, carefully examine walls, floors, and ceilings for any tell-tale signs.

If you want to avoid the extra DIY and hassle of moving into a home that just doesn’t reflect the lifestyle of your family, keep in mind these four different considerations when looking around your next home. 

 

Check Out the Area

First and foremost, you should scout out the nearby streets to gain an idea of who your future neighbors might be, as well as whether there are any indications that the street is safe to live on. For example, there might be a speed monitor set up, which shows that there are attempts to slow down the passing traffic so that it is safer for pedestrians. 

The house might be located in a neighborhood watch area. If you have children, it is worthwhile seeing what schools are in nearby proximity to the house and whether they are still able to commute to the same school that they attend currently.

Perform Safety Checks

There are a number of safety checks that you should perform, or ask to be performed, prior to buying a house. You should check whether there has been a recent electrical safety report, as well as a gas monitor report if appropriate, so that you have peace of mind that there is no risk of electrocution and no fire hazards. If these reports haven’t been conducted, you can ask for this to be done. 

Investigate Troubling Signs

We all have an intuition and should sometimes listen to our gut instinct when something seems wrong, such as peeling wallpaper, musty smells and condensation on windows. These are all common signs that there is damp in the house, which could be easily solved through ventilation, but may actually be related to a deeper and much more expensive problem in the house. This dampness could be caused by a leaky roof or leaky water pipes! Another health hazard in the property could be the use of lead. See the full article here for more details about home lead exposure.

Work Through The Layout

If you are wanting to move into a property without having to do much work, you need to make sure that the current layout of the house works. An open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining room might be ideal for your family. However, if you are a couple who wants to host dinner parties, you might not find the open plan living space functional.

When it comes to purchasing a new house, the key is to use your investigative skills, as well as imagination to ensure that you find the house that is fit for you and your family. This will help to prevent problems and disruption later on down the line!