The upside of a resale home is that you see the real thing before you buy. Make the viewing count and check these.
Structure and roof
- Cracks in the walls, especially diagonal ones from the corners of doors and windows.
- Water stains on the ceiling mean the roof or a pipe has leaked. Ask whether it's been fixed.
- Sinking floors, or gaps where an extension meets the original house.
Water and electrics
- Run every tap and look at the pressure and the pipes under the sink.
- Turn every tap off and watch the meter. If it still moves, there's a leak.
- Open the consumer unit, look at the breakers and ask whether the house is earthed.
Flooding and sun
Ask the owner and the neighbours straight out how high the water has come. Look for tide marks on fences and ground-floor walls, and note which way the house faces: a west-facing home is hot in the afternoon.
Go back at another time
If you like a home, visit again on an evening or a weekend. You'll see the traffic, the noise and the parking in the soi that a first visit can miss.
Taxes and fees change with government measures. Check with the Land Office or our team before transfer day.