Are you a house hunter viewing a property for the first time?
Are you a house hunter viewing a property for the first time?
Below is a list of important checks that we recommend you look out for when viewing a potential new home, in order to avoid unnecessary repairs further down the line!
As a starting point, top things house hunters should be checking for in general when viewing a property are:
Smell of damp
A musty odour
Cracks in the plastering
of internal walls and visible gaps in the pointing between bricks on external walls
The quality of the bathroom
plastic vs ceramic
Boiler efficiency
age, quality, insulation
Heating
efficient radiators; signs of leaks or rust
Central heating
not just efficient heating but how it is run and controlled
Draughts
hold a hand up or put your cheek nearby to check for poorly insulated windows and doors
Leaking gutters
or incomplete guttering, signs of blockages around external gutter drains
Water damage/ Flood risk
signs of water marks on floorboards, ceilings, and tide marks on lower walls or skirting boards
Double glazing
flush fitting to external walls, condensation or signs of moisture between panels
Japanese knotweed in the garden
to identify the plants look for heart or shovel shaped leaves up to 200mm long with small clusters of creamy white flowers
Plumbing
signs of longstanding leakages i.e. on U-bend pipes
Poor decoration
badly fitting kitchen units and doors, fitted wardrobes and other built-in units around the home
Wiring and electrics
up to date fuse boards and circuit boards
Roof maintenance
missing slates, chimney stacks
When it comes to wiring and electrics we suggest you check:
When it comes to wiring and electrics we suggest you check:
Homeowners should visually check the condition of the fuse board and should always check for an installation certificate. As a general rule of thumb:
Old fuse type
= poor
Modern circuit breaker type
= reasonable
Latest button press trip type
= good (and all circuits will have been checked when this type was fitted)
There are some clear signs that can help you tell the age of electrical installations in a home. These are:
Cables coated in black rubber
(phased out in the 1960s)
Cables coated in lead or fabric
(before the 1960s)
A fuse box with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a haphazard mixture of fuse boxes
(before the 1960s)
Older round pin sockets and round light switches
braided flex hanging from ceiling roses, brown and black switches and sockets mounted in skirting boards (before the 1960s)
Wall-mounted light switches in bathrooms
(before the 1960s)
You should also check for the following relevant documents to ensure all electrical work is up to standard in the property:
Electrical Certificate
(Installation/Modification)
EICR
(Electrical Installation Condition Report) (to indicate any work needed)
Building Regulations Compliance Certificate
(also known as a Part P Certificate)
Minor Works Electrical Certificate
Carry out the following checks to ensure your home will run efficiently:
Carry out the following checks to ensure your home will run efficiently:
Boiler efficiency
type of fuel, age, rating, any current warranties, service history (if any) and last known service (evidence)
Heating system
general age and condition, heating controls & type, Thermostatic Radiator Valves (if fitted), insulation to hot water tank and lagging of pipes
Insulation
cavity wall, loft
Renewable energy technologies
type, age and condition, any current warranties, any service / maintenance history, any tied finance like Green Deal, evidence of good roof integrity if roof mounted solar panels
Solar panels
If solar panels are installed (PV & Thermal), buyers should ask whether the installation was done correctly, and if in a block of flats who owns it and is responsible for its maintenance? If it was free install check whether this will cause an issue with obtaining a mortgage/p>
If the property comes with a garden, or outside space we suggest you check:
If the property comes with a garden, or outside space we suggest you check:
Trees and Hedges generally
Trees in your garden which may block light and cause a nuisance, e.g. leaf-fall, or trees in neighboring gardens / in the street causing the same. Hedges will require regular maintenance
Tall or well established trees
in your garden or a neighboring property with roots close to dividing walls or external walls of the property
Are there any tree protections?
Tree Preservation Orders AND Conservation Area designations (as these restrict what you can do to trees in terms of pruning and/or removal.)
Signs of invasive species
i.e. Japanese knotweed