WHAT SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING OUT FOR AT AN INSPECTION?

You’ve set up the alerts on your phone, planned out the calendar and resigned yourself to giving up your Saturday morning sleep-in. Bring on the open for inspections.

What’s the best way to approach them? Firstly, go to as many as you can. Housing inspections are about more than just the house. It’s a chance to see the rest of the street, explore the neighbourhood and check out the ‘competition’ – the other potential buyers.

As you’re walking through and around the property, take note of the following.

• Does everything open and shut?
• Do doors close smoothly or do they stick?
• Do lights turn on and off without flickering?
• Do taps work and is the water flow adequate?
• Are there signs of water damage (i.e. peeling or bubbled paint work, mould, stained ceilings)?
• Do the floors slope or bounce? This may mean stumps need replacing
• Are there cracks in the walls, which could be an indication of subsidence?
• Is there any fretting (cracked) brickwork that could indicate major structural problem?
• Don’t forget to walk around the outside of the property to check fences and the condition of the building’s exterior including gutters and downpipes.