What to look out for?

Jamesjames

We have had our offer accepted for a property that has always been rented out since it was built about 15 years ago. However, the house ha been vacant for the last 6 months or so and that meant the boiler has not been used since then.

Looking at it from a layman's eyes, apart from some of the windows which have condensation in them, we have not identified anything else of concern.

What should we look out for in such a property, considering above?

Would a home buyer's report suffice?

Thanks for your advise.

G_M

Why don't you go round an do a detailed inspection yourself. Take a pen & paper (remember pens? No? OK, take a notepad) and start outside (with binoculers) to check the roof ridge, then the tiles then the gutters. Go when it's raining to see if the gutters/downpipes leak.

Then go in and check each room (and the attic). Take a portable CO alarm and leave it by the boiler while to do the rest. Run the taps (start the boiler to check the hot tap) and feel the radiators (all of them).

Make notes on condition of each window, wall ceiling, carpet. Look (and smell) for signs of damp. Look at sockets and any visible wiring. Check the Consumer Unit.

Go back out and check the garden. Lift any manhole covers to check for backed-up water (sign of blockage). Garden fences etc.

You can find a list on the WWW of other things to check. (by the way, has that CO alarm gone off yet?).

By the end you'll have a good idea of the general condition, and of what may need fixing.

:beer:

SmlSave

Good advice G_M

And don't forget to try all the taps.

Try the light switches

Get the agent to switch the boiler on one morning for you to check in the afternoon that it works.

Look in all the cupboards, open the windows, go in the loft and check any furniture left isn't hiding a hole.

I'm afraid I don't think much of home buyers surveys apart from a useful tool to try and reduce the price.

Jamesjames

Thanks G_M and SmiSave for your advise. Points noted.

Hoploz

And if you do all that, you will have a far better handle on things than if you pay a surveyor £500+ for a lengthy report which will ask more questions than it answers.

Jamesjames

Hoploz wrote: »

And if you do all that, you will have a far better handle on things than if you pay a surveyor £500+ for a lengthy report which will ask more questions than it answers.

Thanks Hoploz. Is that because it is a fairly new build [15 years]? Is a a home buyers' report more relevant for an older property? I am a newbie re properties, sorry.

Hoploz

Not really. But because if you do the looking, you'll actually see what needs doing and where.

If you get a report, it will be very wordy, most of it will be the surveyor covering his back with lots of suggestions for other specialist reports to get done, some of it will be vague comments such as 'may contain asbestos' which are meaningless unless you know for sure. And even if you do understand the points raised, you won't have seen them first hand so you'll still be a bit vague on exactly what the problem is. Far better to be hands on with a torch in hand than leave it to someone else. Then if you speak to builders or whoever about the problem in future, you'll actually know what you're telling them about.

If you are a newbie, then try and find someone who has a bit more experience than you and take with you to have a look. Two pairs of eyes are better than one

Jamesjames

Hoploz wrote: »

Not really. But because if you do the looking, you'll actually see what needs doing and where.

If you get a report, it will be very wordy, most of it will be the surveyor covering his back with lots of suggestions for other specialist reports to get done, some of it will be vague comments such as 'may contain asbestos' which are meaningless unless you know for sure. And even if you do understand the points raised, you won't have seen them first hand so you'll still be a bit vague on exactly what the problem is. Far better to be hands on with a torch in hand than leave it to someone else. Then if you speak to builders or whoever about the problem in future, you'll actually know what you're telling them about.

If you are a newbie, then try and find someone who has a bit more experience than you and take with you to have a look. Two pairs of eyes are better than one

Ok,thanks. Makes sense.