When you're viewing a house, it's not always obvious what to look for. But there are some MAJOR things you should consider when you next view a property with the prospect of buying.
In this video, BIG John highlights some of the crucial things that are often overlooked. Don't even begin think about how your furniture will look in your new house until you've taken into account these 5 super important things that should be on every homebuyer's checklist:
𝟭. 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞
What the property looks like on the outside is every bit as important as what it looks like on the inside. Look at the brickwork. Do you notice any obvious cracks? Is any of the pointing loose? Are the bricks the same in all areas?
Different types of bricks would suggest either an addition to the property - such as an extension or conservatory - or to patch up a previous problem. As John points out in the video, cracks in brickwork could be something as serious as subsidence. Especially when they are accompanied by uneven floors. Which brings us on to our next point…
𝟮. 𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗥𝗦
In the video, John notices floor tiles that have risen in the conservatory. Although this could be down to them being laid incorrectly and poor methods, it could also be due to movement in the floor and expansion.
In the kitchen John identifies that the skirting board is touching the floor in places but not in others. Presuming the skirting board is perfectly flat, this means that the floor has in some way moved - which goes hand-in-hand with John's theory of subsidence. Again, this is something that can be easily dismissed at a house viewing.
𝟯. 𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗣 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦
This problem is more obvious. Any signs of discolouration on the walls or mould in the corners of the rooms should ring alarm bells. At this particular house viewing, John notices damp patches on the ceiling of the lounge. These are actually caused by a leaking chimney, which - although relatively easy to fix - would be a warning sign when viewing a house.
Look out also for evidence of rising damp.
Internal signs of rising damp include: visible damp patches that usually emanate from the skirting board; peeling paint or wallpaper; mould growth on the walls; and rotting skirting boards.
External signs include: discolouration of the brickwork; damaged/spalled bricks or mortar; and efflorescence.
𝟰. 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘
Drainage is almost always overlooked at property viewings. But inadequate drainage can lead to a plethora of internal problems including penetrating damp and - in this case - subsidence. The house in the video has neighbouring properties that are built higher up. This means that rainwater flows down to the house from behind.
Consequently it needs to be able to deal with excess surface water. However, the property in the video doesn't do that. Instead, the excess rainwater is being channeled toward the house. This is evident by the penetrating damp inside the cavity wall but also the sheer amount of moss at the side of the house. Moss, of course, can only survive in wet conditions. Be wary of moss near the property that you're viewing. It's a sign that the area is constantly damp.
𝟱. 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
At the start of the video, John explains a simple technique you can use to see if the house you're viewing has wooden floors or concrete floors - or a mixture of the two. He calls it 'the foot stomp test'.
As John points out, if the property you're viewing has suspended wooden floors, it SHOULD have air bricks on the outside of the property below the damp course. This means that air can flow beneath the floorboards and hopefully properly ventilate the area. Be wary if these don't exist; are blocked; or are being covered by paving or other items.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗟𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗙𝗢𝗥?
Another crucial thing you can check when you're viewing a house with the prospect of buying is the damp course. Some older properties were built without a damp course. However, if the house you're viewing does have one, it should be visible between the courses of bricks usually 2-3 rows from the bottom of the property. Look for a thin black layer.
In the video, John notices that the damp course may have been breached. This is caused by building above it. In this case, steps rise above the damp course and are attached to the house - separated only by a sheet of DPM, which is subject to deterioration in the sun's UV rays.
If you see paving or steps etc. around the house that are connected to the property and rise above the damp course, be aware that this could breach the DPC and lead to penetrating damp.
#housebuying #housebuyer #homebuyers
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