The Why's and How's of Property Inspections

If you make it a point to test drive a vehicle before buying it, the same goes when buying a property. Inspections are everything when it comes to property buying. You will never know what you are going to get or what you are getting yourself into 100% without a careful and calculated inspection of the property you are a few inches away from buying.

Why inspect?

• Property inspections will provide you the features and conditions of the property and its local area. If you are inspecting more than 1 property for the week, make sure to take down notes or take pictures. Of course, ask permission from the real estate agent if taking pictures is allowed. 
• Property inspections will let you know if the property indeed meets your basic (and not-so-basic) requirements. 
• Is the location convenient to commercial establishments such as a mall or a school?
• Is the size good enough for my family of 4?
• Is the location prone to flooding?
• Does the property meet my style?
• How old is the property?
• Regular inspections of the property you want to buy will tell you about the repairs and structural concerns you need to address eventually.
• Do the floors need replacing?
• Are there blisters on the wall painting?
• Are there cracks or stumps on the walls?
• Are there leaks in the roof?
• Property inspections will tell you if there were alterations made to the property. Especially if the property was extended or renovated, you need to know that these improvements were permitted by the local council. Not only do you buy the property, but you also inherit the responsibility in case the alterations were made illegal.

How to inspect?

• Attend an Open for Inspection. Check websites and the real estate sections of newspapers for Open for Inspection dates. If you are attending an inspection, you might have to show a proof of identity to the real estate agent for security.
• Get a professional to inspect the property. The cost of hiring an inspector is smaller than the cost of a property that comes with a lot of structural challenges. The inspector - an actual building inspector, an architect, an engineer or a surveyor - will tell you all the faults in the property, the repair potential of these faults and how much the repairs will cost you. An inspector can also identify structural faults that have been addressed with cosmetic cover ups.
• Do pest inspections. Investments need to be protected especially from tiny invaders that can crumble that piece of investment down. Do pest inspections with an exterminator present. This is a small price to pay to ensure that your property will not fall into pieces.