Today we have a Guest Post by Sophie Banat, MSc graduate in Psychology. Interested in health, beauty and fashion. Tweets @Scramboodle. Please give her a warm welcome!
It's a sign of the times that we are all just that little bit less gung-ho when it comes to spending our
hard-earned cash. This is truer than ever when it comes to buying a house or property. It's one of the
most expensive things we will ever buy and the last thing you want is to discover all too late that you
need to make costly repairs after your purchase. At the very least, finding out in advance could help
you negotiate on price.
Most home buyers do invest in a survey, but if we're honest, most of us only think about the
structural and visible issues. But the systems that sometimes can't be seen but provide the
heartbeat of the home, such as the electrics, water, heating and ventilation, can be, at worst,
dangerous and, at best, costly to fix, if they go wrong. It's not just in the short term; a badly running
system is less energy efficient and therefore hard on the pocket in the long run. So what are some of
the key things to consider before committing to the purchase?
Surveyor
This could be brief check to ensure the building is sound overall, mostly for the purposes of
mortgage valuation, or a more in depth check. Often the surveyor is organised through your
mortgage company if you have one, but you should not be tied to their recommendation. You could
and should shop around for the most experienced or recommended expert.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
These systems are referred to collectively in the business as your HVAC system. This is not usually
included specifically in a survey as the surveyor tends to check only what he can access readily.
Problems here are a pain to fix and a drain on your finances if they're not efficient. It's worth hiring
an expert to check the lot thoroughly, including your
HVAC controller. This is a specialist job, so it's
worth hiring an expert to give you peace of mind.
Electrics
Remember how irritating and inconvenient it was the last time you had a power-cut in a storm?
If you can help it, you don't want this system letting you down, as it's pretty difficult to function
without it. How up to date is the control panel, is the system earthed appropriately and can the
system carry the electrical load of any plans you have for the house? That whirlpool bath you
fancy could be enough to tip the electrics over the edge, so it's worth running this through with an
electrician first.
Water
It's nigh on impossible to live without it, but it is something we take for granted. Are your pipes
copper, PVC or something else? Are they corroded? Is your water tank free from debris and
sufficient for your family's needs? Does the emergency stop cock work? All things a qualified
plumber can confirm for you and a little cash invested here can save a lot in the future.
Be In on Everything
This is going to be your home and it's almost certainly your money, so go with the old adage that
knowledge is power. So many of us just leave the surveyor to go about his or her work and simply
and feed back to us. It is ideal for you to be involved and be there to discuss every aspect of any
issue that could be discovered by any one of the checks discussed above. Invest your time and you
will have the peace of mind that there are no surprises lurking around the corner when you move in.
