If you are undertaking the exciting and involved task of purchasing a home, you want to be sure that you end up making the right choice. There are a number of things you want to be aware of, in order to ensure that you can avoid unforeseen problems that may appear in the future, and have an overall positive experience. Purchasing a new home should be an exciting and gratifying experience – you do not want to end up disappointed and with second thoughts.
With this in mind, there are a few considerations you need to make when it comes down to the final buying decision. These crucial factors are:
- You need to do your initial research
- Ensure the layout and design of the home is suitable for your needs
- Undertake a comprehensive overview of the build quality of the house
In making these considerations, there can be a lot involved in each.
Doing Your Initial Research
The first, and most obvious step, will likely be to do your initial research. This may seem self explanatory, however there is a lot that should go into this in order to confirm that the home fits your needs. To start, some things you need to consider include where it is located and what its surroundings are, the pricing of the home in comparison to the market, and whether you have factored in any hidden costs.
Location: The location of your home is extremely important.
This might include the suburb it is located in, whether it is in a close proximity to shops, schools and public transport, whether or not the area suits your lifestyle, and what the resale value might be based on the neighborhood price history. Additionally, be sure to double check regarding any future development plans that may turn the surroundings of your home into a construction zone.
Pricing: Fair and beneficial pricing of your home is key.
Ensuring that you are paying a fair amount for a house can save you a significant amount of money. Real estate agents, whilst they are aiming to get you a great deal on what might be your dream home, are ultimately making a commission on the sale and might overestimate the price. Researching the pricing of surrounding properties of a similar size and type, as well as using an online pricing estimate tool is a good starting point in determining what you should be paying for your new home.
Hidden Costs: Extra fees can creep up and will impact your budget.
Finally, in doing your research, be sure to factor in any hidden costs so that you spend within your budget. These can include council rates, stamp duty, any insurance and loan fees, conveyance fees and building inspection costs.
Ensuring the Layout and Design is Suitable for Your Needs
Once you have done your research on the surroundings of the house and what you want to pay for it, the next step is to confirm that the layout and design is suitable for your needs. This is important, whether it involves looking at the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and car spaces, considering how the layout of rooms and the house as a whole will work to support the dynamic of your family or housemates, or even looking at things like the natural light and the aesthetic of the interior and exterior.
Layout: An ideal layout will mean that your home is comfortable and functional.
Firstly, the ideal layout needs to ensure that living spaces, working spaces, bedrooms, bathrooms and the kitchen are all located in areas that are convenient and practical. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you will want to be sure that it is the right size – particularly if you are cooking in larger quantities. If you are moving many people into the house, you will want to make sure that the number of bathrooms is sufficient in order to avoid inconveniences and long waits. Furthermore, if you are working from home, a home office space might be a great option for you.
In addition to the number and size of rooms, ensure that the layout itself allows for natural light and ventilation. Moreover, something like an open kitchen and living room plan can be a great feature that allows for an amazing social atmosphere and a comfortable home.
Design: An obvious consideration, however there are areas to pay attention to.
Aesthetically, the interior and exterior of your home is an important part of choosing your new property – you will be living and looking at the design on a daily basis. This is an obvious aspect of choosing a new home, but looking at specifics such as the wall colours (and whether they are wallpaper or painted), the flooring and quality of the floorboards, and the window and door frames are key aspects that you will come to notice often.
When it comes to the outside of the house, look at the house on its own, as well as how it looks when compared to the homes around it. Again, checking the colour of the exterior and whether it has been painted consistently is key here. While you can always repaint and redesign your new home, you might come to find that significant savings can be made in choosing a home you are happy with from the start. Finally, look at things like window placement and the aesthetic design of your front and back gardens.
Undertaking an Overview of House Condition and Build Quality
The final area to pay attention to when purchasing a home is to look at the condition of the house, and its build quality. This might be the most important section, as whilst you might love your new home, if it is not in good condition you will be paying significant amounts in repairs and maintenance.
Structure Quality – Don’t take your agent’s word for it, and get the help of a building inspector
Enlisting the help of a building inspector will ensure that the structure of your building and roof, as well as things like insulation and various fittings are all up to standard. These are things that you might miss on your own, and ensuring that there are no problems will save you lots of time and money in the long run. Another important consideration to make here is whether there is any evidence of termite activity through the help of a pest expert like the ones at Aptive.
Looking at these aspects properly can provide a useful negotiating tool, however if they are severe enough, they may mean reconsidering your purchase.
Wall Cracks – In the right situations, it can be a good idea to fix cosmetic problems such as wall cracks and leaky taps after purchase.
Finally, you may notice smaller quality problems such as damp or cracked walls, worn out floorboards, plumbing and electrical problems, and more. Problems like these will be less significant than structural problems within the home, and it will be up to you in deciding whether you want to fix them, or if they rule out the house entirely. With a problem such as a cracked wall, something like a brick wall crack repair can easily be done with the help of a contractor, and the same goes with cracked paint and plumbing issues. With this being said, they may be signs of more significant problems – this is where enlisting the help of a building inspector might once again come in handy.