Let the house viewing begin

The goal of house hunting is to find your dream home, so prepare yourself before you begin.

Take your time and get an idea of what properties are worth by viewing a number of them for comparison so that you don’t get caught in the trap of buying an overvalued property.

Take all these tips into consideration and you will find house hunting an easy and successful venture.

Viewing Tip: Don’t focus on a home’s décor items such as curtains and carpets. These are aesthetic items and can be changed if need be.

Look at all defects and determine an estimated cost of fixing them, then find out if your budget allows for renovations.

Take photos: Don’t get yourself into a situation where you have just viewed a house and can’t remember the kitchen.

Take a digital camera with you to each house viewing, and take pictures of everything. When you revisit these pictures at a later stage you may spot something you didn’t see before.

Revisit and review: Once you have narrowed down your selection to a few homes, ask your Estate Agent if you can view them again to take a closer look. Bring along your partner, family member, or friend for a second opinion, and ask any additional questions that you may have.

Viewing tip: For different aspects of a home, view a property during the day and at night.

Meet the neighbours: Introduce yourself to the neighbours and ask them about the area, future plans for the neighbourhood, developments and safety.

Ask as many questions as possible. Are the roof tiles in good order, do the windows need replacing, or are there trees that are too close that could cause a problem in the future? If something catches your eye, make a note of it.

Checklist: It’s a good idea to take notes as you go, so take along a checklist and write down the important things about each house and each room as you go through.

Practice patience: Buying property is a long-term commitment, so don’t rush into buying the first home you see.

Take your time when viewing a home, and most importantly, follow your instincts. Also take your time with getting an idea of what properties are worth by viewing a number of them for comparison so that you don’t get caught in the trap of buying an overvalued property.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Is there future development planned for the area?

• Are there any homeowners association fees or levies?

• What are the values of other homes in the neighbourhood?

All these questions can be answered in the next section where we look at doing additional research on a specific property.