It’s not enough to just walk around the property and look at it. You need to get on your hands and knees, crawl under the house, open up closets and cupboards, peer into the attic—basically go through this place with a fine-tooth comb.
The more you can find out about what you’re getting before you buy it, the better off you will be in the long run. That doesn’t mean nitpicking every little detail. Some things won’t matter to you anyway (like how many lightbulbs there are). But if something does turn out to be an issue later on down the line because of poor quality or design from when it was built, then finding that out before the purchase is very important.
Pest Infestation
One of the first things you want to check for is a pest infestation. You can see if there’s termite damage or wood rot from the outside, plus you may be able to spot some other type of infestation by just looking around.
If it looks like ants have been crawling through a window sill or hundreds of beetles are buzzing all-around a chimney, chances are good that something’s not quite right on the inside. If you do need to get inside for further inspection, make sure it’s okay with the homeowner! You can always get the best building and pest inspections in Perth to come and have a look, just to be safe. Try opening doors and windows throughout the home – if there’s an infestation they’ll come flying out at you.
While it might seem gross, keep an eye out for animal droppings in the corners of rooms or under stairs. Rodents often tunnel through insulation and wiring, which could potentially cause a fire hazard down the line. If you find any, that’s definitely something to look into further!
Plumbing Issues
If there are plumbing issues with a home, it may be hard to know about them unless you can see inside pipes or take a closer look at things like water pressure or hot water temperature. It’s best if you have a solid understanding of how things work before going ahead and making an offer on a place. There could be problems everywhere from irrigation to sewage, so make sure everything is checked out.
Just turn on every tap throughout the house while someone else checks the water pressure. This way you can see if there’s a problem with any of the spouts, showers, or toilets. Plus ask to run the dishwasher and washing machine while you’re looking around too!
If everything looks good, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is good. Sometimes pipes are hidden in cupboards or behind drywall. You may be able to get an idea of what kind of shape everything is in just by using common sense and your eyes. Is there rust? Is there mold? Are things leaking? These are some signs that something might not be working properly.
Insulation And Foundation Issues
Sagging floors or cracks in walls could indicate some sort of structural issue beneath the surface. It might be hard to know exactly what the problem with something like this is without taking it apart, but you can get a general idea by looking around. If you happen to notice any mold or water damage, that’s definitely a sign of some sort of moisture-related trouble under the surface.
Foundation problems are also very common in older houses, especially with things like shifting soil. This means there could be cracks in things like walls and floors—even porches! If you have access to crawl into the attic or basement you should take a look for anything out of the ordinary. You may even want to bring along someone who knows what they’re doing just so they can give you an expert opinion on issues outside your own expertise
Is it a Good Neighborhood?
While the condition of a house is important, you’ll also want to consider whether or not it’s in a good location. If there have been crimes committed in the past, that should be public knowledge and you can go look up some statistics on it. Does anyone else live on the property? Are there large numbers of pets or children running around outside? You’ll want to consider these things before making a final decision on where you’re going to live!
There are many things you should inspect before buying a property. Some of these important inspections include plumbing, insulation, and foundation issues. You may also want to consider the neighborhood and whether or not there have been any crimes committed in the past on that property as well as other factors such as pets running around outside or children playing nearby. If all seems safe, then congratulations! It sounds like this is your perfect home!