Buying a house is an exciting experience. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for your first home or are simply moving on and up. The experience is the same. You’ll need to spend time considering what you want from your home and planning all the details of the move to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

However, before you commit to purchasing a home there are 5 things you should be looking at carefully.

• Your Requirements

If you’re buying a home you need to consider what you actually need. There are some great properties on the market but should you be purchasing a 4-bed if you only need a 2-bed. Part of this will depend on your budget and your plans while in the house 

If you’re thinking about starting a family the extra space will be useful. But, you need to remember that a larger house equates to larger bills. It’s a balancing act.

• Budget

An essential part of purchasing a home is setting your budget and then, once it’s established, not going over it. It can be very tempting to stretch it. But, if you’ve set your budget properly you can comfortably afford the house and any repairs while still enjoying your quality of life. 

It’s best to speak to a financial advisor before you define your budget.

• The Neighborhood

It’s incredibly important to check out the neighborhood. This means asking around, especially with family and friends to see if they’ve heard anything about the area. You should also look at the local news reports, you can check back on the internet to see if there is a high level of crime or any other issues in the area.

Finally, it’s worth driving around the area at different times of the day and night. You want to be sure that you’ll feel safe and that it has all the facilities you need. 

• Building Report

Now that you’re fairly sure you’re purchasing the house you need to get the help of a reputable to highlight building consultant Sydney. They will conduct a survey of the house for you. Their job is issues, such as structural cracks, subsidence, dampness, electrical problems, and even pest issues. Speak to the company to confirm what they will check.

It’s an important step as you never know what a house may be hiding. Solving the issues can be expensive, if you know beforehand you’ll be able to negotiate the price and you’ll be ready for the problems.

• Local projects

Finally, as part of the purchasing process, you should be made aware of any projects that are happening in the area. Some can be good and are likely to increase the value of your property. But, if they are planning on demolishing half the houses for a railway line that’s not going to improve the quality of life or the value of your home!

It’s important to verify any upcoming projects to make sure you are buying the right home. 

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Marco Verch