Buyer’s Tips: What you should look for when inspecting a property
By | 31st Mar 16

Buyer’s Tips: What you should look for when inspecting a property

Your home requirements will often be related to the different phases in your life. Many are first home buyers want to get their foot on the property ladder, others are looking for renovation options to create capital. Here are our easy tips when looking for a property in a hot market.

1. Location is everything.

Being close to amenities and convenience is always a good selling point. People want a sense of community and connectivity when buying a property. They say you can always put lipstick on a home but can’t change the location, so keep this in mind when looking for first home or investment.

2. Walkability.

We have mentioned this before in past posts about the “Walk score” of your property. Different suburbs have different walk scores, and in a society where convenience is important, you might want to research the local area to see if things like a café, schools, train stations or shops nearby.

3. Natural light.

Often when you go for inspections, the rooms are lit up with all the lights in the house turned on. One thing to keep in mind is what aspect the home is facing as well as areas of natural light. New apartments these days have a lot of “borrowed” light from other rooms – this is ok, but not ideal for everyone. Having a naturally well-lit home will save on bills and also create a positive environment.

4. Liveability.

If you are inspecting a home and the floorplan is not open or functional, you might want to keep in mind how you can change the layout to optimise space, light and use. If you are in an apartment, this may be a little more difficult. Keep in mind that even if you are not living in the apartment and using it as an investment, having a functional floorplan will attract quality tenants.

5. Don’t skip the building inspection.

We know, it may seem like another additional cost when you haven’t even bought the home yet! It’s better to know what you are buying and if there are structural problems that the naked eye might not pick up easily. Things like water damage, asbestos or termites can be a costly exercise to fix.

Want more?

Click here to read our tips on buying an investment for the first time

Click here to read about our buyer’s advocacy services for first home buyers