What to look for when buying a house to renovate
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Every Australian dreams of finding the perfect "Renovators Delight" at a bargain price, renovating the house and either keeping it as your family's dream home or flipping it for a quick profit. However, before you get too far ahead of yourself you need to find your "Renovators Delight", and before you buy it you need to be sure that you're truly purchasing a "delight" rather than a "nightmare. For this reason you need to look at the house from every angle taking into account factors including termites, structural soundness, electrical, plumbing, drainage, and general waterproofing.
Termites
When considering buying any house you should employ a pest controller to carry out a termite inspection and issue a certificate.
Structural Soundness
Check that the walls, roof and floor are all straight, level and plumb. Look to see that doors open and shut properly, that the floors don't slope, as this is a sign that the property may require restumping. Its also important to check that the structures are free of rot, especially in wet areas such as bathrooms and the laundry.
Electrical
When was the last time that the electrical wiring was replaced? Does the house have a modern safety switchboard? Old wiring can be expensive to replace.
Plumbing
Whilst plumbing is often hidden behind the walls there are many tell-tale signs of plumbing issues. Check how old the hot water system is, and what condition the hot water system is in. Check the water pressure around the house. Are there any signs of blocked drains?
Waterproofing
Check for rot in the corners of window sills, roof linings, and wall framing. If the house has been freshly painted such rot may not be obvious, so you may have to check under the floor and up in the ceiling for proof.
List of other considerations for your Renovators Delight
These factors may not necessarily help you inspect the house, but they may be useful factors in choosing the right house for your renovation project:
- Proximity to services such as schools, shops and transport.
- Are there any restrictive covenants on the land? Such as a single storey limit.
- Is the site subject to flooding or tidal surge?
- Do any government authorities have rights over the land?
- Is the house below a flight path?
- What are the neighbours like?
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We work hard to be able to pay the rent, provide for the family, send the kids to school, and to have something left come retirement age. That is why it is very important that we get what we pay for. This is especially true when it comes to purchasing (house and) lots. After all, these houses are where we will be leaving a legacy to the next generations. Anyway, thank you for your article, it is an interesting and informative read.
over a year ago by Saccha
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