Buying a property for sale in Epping or anywhere in Australia is a big deal. You’re spending your life savings on securing your future, and as such you want to get the best value for your money. But often, people end up making huge mistakes when buying property for one single reason: they failed to properly inspect the house prior to purchasing it.

The typical house inspection lasts anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes which is nowhere near enough time to adequately assess whether a house needs major or minor repairs. Although a professional house inspection can detect any major problems before you sign any papers, knowing what to look for when attending an open-house inspection can help save all parties a ton of time. In addition to the usual things to look for in an inspection: the layout of the house, the number of rooms and bathrooms, parking space, HVAC systems etc.

Here are a few things to be on the lookout for to ensure you’re making the right decision:

  • Signs of water damage:

Moisture damage is one of the first things to be on the lookout for. Moisture trapped in walls and seeping into the foundations can cause any number of problems, such as weakening the foundations of the house or creating the perfect atmosphere for mould, mildew and bacteria to grow. It may also rot wood, cause a damp smell to emanate from the house and create stains on ceilings and walls.

While walking through the house, pay attention to the ceilings and walls of the house. Moisture damage is usually very apparent once it has gotten past a certain point and may manifest itself in warped floorboards and tiles, damp smells, mould stains, rotting wood, leaking pipes, water stains on walls and moss on the ground (also a sign of poor drainage.

  • Poor structure

A house with a poor or failing structure is a disaster waiting to happen. Look for cracks in ceilings and walls that are wider than five millimetres, sagging roofs, roof leaks, uneven floors, crumbling concrete, ill-fitting doors and windows or obvious signs of a termite infestation. It’s also a good idea to take a torch with you to your next inspection (the torch on your mobile device should do) and shine it on the ceilings to check if the ceilings are sagging or have a parachute appearance. All of these are very obvious signs of structural damage.

  • Direction of the house

Something many people fail to consider when buying or renting a property in Australia is the direction in which it is facing. This is very important, as a house facing the west will typically get the full brunt of the harsh Australian sun in the summers, making your house heat up very fast. On the other hand, a south-facing house will get freezing cold in the winters due to the winds blowing from Antarctica. This usually means that people living in west- or south-facing houses have higher electricity bills as they have to use the HVAC system constantly to regulate temperatures in the house.

For people looking for property for sale in Epping, it is best to look for a house that is facing north-west. This direction is the best for getting optimum light throughout the day without overheating the house in the summers and to keep your house well-insulated during the colder months.

  • Water pressure

Don’t hesitate to turn on the water taps in a house inspection and check the water pressure. Low water pressure might just mean a faulty tap that can easily be replaced or maybe a sign of improper pipe installation or even a major blockage. On the other hand, water pressure that is too high may also put undue pressure on the pipes and could potentially damage appliances like dishwashers and washing machines and cause continually running toilets and taps to leak resulting in higher water wastage and bills.

  • Proximity to amenities

When driving to the house inspection, pay attention to everything you pass. You will need to know where the closest school is to your house if you have children and what its ratings are in terms of the other schools in the area. You will also need to be close enough to a train or bus station if you regularly commute to work via public transport, and ideally should be close to at least one grocery store. Another thing to pay attention to is the noise levels of the area. It might be helpful to visit the property at different times to see if noise will be an issue. Also, close all the windows in the house to see if that helps manage the noise levels a little.

  • Licences

Although this is something that your house inspector will check during the official inspection, it can be helpful to know if you will be facing any licensing issues should you buy the property. Ask the property agent if there have been any recent renovations or upgrades to the property and if they can provide documents confirming permissions from the local council to get the job done. If the homeowner is unable to produce these documents, you may be looking at paying hefty fines or even demolition once the property is transferred to your name.

Buying a property is a stressful undertaking. But when buying property in Epping, Wollert or the surrounds, using the help of the right real estate agency in Wollert can help. Not only can they help you find and evaluate the ideal home for your needs but can also negotiate the lowest price, taking a load off your shoulders. When looking for a property in the area, get in touch with a local real estate agent to help make the journey to owning your first home easier.