The warm summer and mild winter seasons of Australia complement the breathtaking sites that the country has to offer. The low air pollution and high-quality of life are just part of the reasons why Australia has attracted a lot of migrants wanting to move in and settle. More people are moving to Australia and there are a lot of house and land packages in Australia that are being considered by would-be homeowners to be their forever homes.
If you are one of the potential house buyers, you should whittle down your selection to property listing to a manageable number. After this, you should start inspecting house and land packages in Australia to help you choose the right home for you.
Here are some tips in inspecting potential homes.
Bring Your Broker and a Family Member Along
You may have given a potential home a once-over and have placed that home in your shortlist. However, you may not be as good an observer as you may like to believe. It is best if you bring a knowledgeable family member or a friend along to give the place a twice-over. Your relative or friend might be able to see things that you have missed, such as the minor flaws of the house. Bringing your broker along the inspection is also a must to help you assess and revalue the home as you notice the defects.
Bring Documentation Tools
If you have a lot of house and land packages in Australia to inspect, you may easily forget the essential details of the previous homes. It is best to bring a camera or a video recorder to document each part of the property while recording your comments as well. You can compare your notes at the end of the inspection to determine the pros and cons of each inspected home.
Assess the Structural Integrity of the House
You should always check for the structural integrity of any house that you are planning to purchase. It is best if you will bring along somebody who knows his or her way around inspecting homes. However, if you are going to check the house on your own, here are things to look at:
- Walls. Look for unevenness, holes, and cracks on walls. Examine also the thickness of the barriers to assess the wall’s effectiveness in blocking out noise.
- Roof. Ask the age of the roof and the last time that it was repaired or serviced. You should also check to see if all the gutters and rain drainage systems are correctly working.
- Security. Check to see if the lot is adequately fenced in and if gates can be locked.
- Floor Plan. What type of floor plan do you want your house to have? Do you wish to have an open floor plan, or do you prefer distinctions between the different areas of your home? You should also measure all the rooms in a square area so that you will have an idea on how to furnish the new house.
- Plumbing. Look for visible water leaks and poor plumbing by checking if all faucets work and all toilets flush properly. If you have a keen sense of smell, you can also try to smell for a musty odour within the walls that can be a sign of water damage.
- Ventilation and Natural Light. You should also check to see if the house has a good source of natural light and if the air is ventilated correctly.
Always remember when inspecting house and land packages in Australia that one of these houses may become your home for generations. So be super vigilant with your inspection. Be meticulous and always scrutinize even the smallest of flaws.
