Checking a house before you buy it is a good way to get more information about its current condition. You can do it yourself or have a professional do it for you.
Keep in mind that a home inspection by a professional is a thorough examination of the property you are considering buying. It will give you an idea of how well maintained the house is, whether there are any major problems and whether it is worth buying.
If you don’t want to invest in a professional inspection, we propose 7 key points so that you can check a house before buying it without any experience, but be careful!!! These tips are in no way meant to replace a report done by a professional, we know that they can be expensive, but they are worth it for your peace of mind.
Things to keep in mind
When viewing a property, in most cases, you will spend between 30 and 40 minutes on average. When time is short it is very important that how nice and tidy the property may be does not detract from the real reason for the visit: to potentially buy the house. Make sure you look beyond the tidy furniture and focus solely on whether the house would be a good fit for you and your family. To keep things simple, we’ve put together a list of 7 points to help you review the home before you buy.
Check the exterior of all water pipes, joints and open taps for leaks. Check that the plumbing complies with the requirements, for example that the stopcock is in an accessible location.
Checking a home’s plumbing is not a task that can be done lightly, which is why we advise you to enlist the help of a professional who can also use a camera to check the interior.
If there are carpets or objects covering the floor, we advise you to lift them up. Lest they hide any surprises.
Make sure there are enough electrical outlets for the appliances and other electronic devices you will be using. Also turn on all the lights to check for any flickering or malfunctioning and ask the landlord or real estate agent when the electrical installation was last renewed.
Don’t just look to see if there is enough space in the cupboard; look to see if it smells musty, if it is comfortable to open the doors to store items, if it has been built to make the best use of space.
If they are included in the house, make sure they are in good condition. It would be interesting to be able to switch them on and check their operation. Lest they are leaking or not working.
Check if the floors are level. Place a marble or other small round object on the floor and see if it rolls steadily in one direction. In the case of terraces or showers, check that the marble rolls in the direction of the drain, so you know that the water will not remain stagnant.
When considering a flat, look at the orientation and the type of view it has – is there enough natural light, is the view distracting or unpleasant? Another thing to pay attention to is the quality and age of the windows to see how well they insulate against outside noise and weather. It is not the same to have old single-glazed windows as it is to have double-glazed windows with a 16mm chamber. They can help you to save both energy and money.
Conclusion
This list does not include everything you need to check when you decide to buy your new home, but it is a starting point that will help you look beyond how nice it might be. As I said at the beginning I advise you to use the service of a professional so that you can be sure (although there is never any) that you are making a good purchase.
If everything is ok for you, go ahead. Now it’s time for the legal review of the property. I know, I know, it never ends, but keep in mind that buying a house is an important step that must be well considered.
If you don’t know where to start you can contact us without obligation, so that one of our experts can advise you on the purchase of your new home in Mallorca.
