Getting married, having children and buying your first house are all significant chapters in a person’s life. They are the most exhilarating but also the most stressful parts of life. Here at Zanibike, we know that most first time home buyers don’t know the repercussions that come with buying a new home. So, to take away the hurdle, here is a checklist for buying a new house:
- The Monthly Expenses
When looking for your dream home, it’s wise to ask about the average monthly expenses, especially for water, electricity and gas. That’s because you’ll need to factor these in as long as you live in that house, and you can start forming ideas on how to make your own energy savings. For example, by changing to a water meter or installing ceramic german radiators.
- Home Inspection
Having a house inspection done before signing the contract is always a smart move. That’s because built-in ovens, new tiles, fresh paint and granite worktops can hide an array of substantial defects. Issues from electrical cabling, heating circuits, fuse boxes, mains earthing and even gas and water supply are easy to overlook when a house has had a spruce up to look appealing.
With a reputable surveyor by your side for property inspection, you will be able to identify potential areas that need addressing before you sign that dotted line. However, it is important to ask for a formal Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, as well as it covers areas like fittings, fixtures as well as safety of electrical installations. EICR covers the following:
- Panel & storage heaters
- Boilers
- Fuse boards and consumer units
- Hard wired smoke alarms and fire detectors
Who’s Qualified to Conduct a Property Survey?
When you ask for a house inspection/survey, it’s advisable to check if the surveyor is at least a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Residential Property Surveyors Association or similar organisations. These entities have varying levels of surveys, which will be reflected in the price. As such, it’s imperative to know the kind of survey you need depends on the type of house and its age.
When it comes to hiring a surveyor, it’s important to make sure they are not only qualified, but they are ideal for your needs. Experience in your region is essential, to avoid fraud and ensure you are getting the best rates. Our company has been in the industry for years and know what needs to be inspected when someone is moving or buying a new home. Also, consider looking at reviews and testimonials from previous customers to ensure you are working with the real deal.
- Property Viewing
When you first visit your dream house, there are things you’ll certainly do in order to make sure it matches your needs. Below, we have listed a number of suggestions to help you become more confident when placing an offer or even reconsidering if you are happy with the asking price:
- Are there any exposed wires?
- Do all the light switches function?
- Are there signs of condensation, mould or dampness?
- How many power sockets are in the house, and are they installed in convenient places?
- How old is the fuse box and when was it last inspected?
- What is the boiler’s service history? Is it noisy?
- What is the rating for energy performance (EPC) for the house? This is important as it determines how much energy you consume and will have an impact on your monthly costs, as we mentioned earlier.
- Is there a gas central heating, or do you need electric radiators?
- Does the house benefit from a conservatory? Do you need an electric radiator or is central heating available?
- Is the home properly insulated? In this day and age, energy conservation is imperative and the better the insulation, the lower your energy bills.