Image: Stephen Webster - Getty
When you’re buying a home for the first time, it is easy to be seduced by superficial impressions. If so, it could prove to be an expensive mistake.
Here are some things that immediately spell out danger.
- Slipping tiles or sagging roof: more than one or two slipped tiles could mean a new roof within five years. Sags can mean subsidence.
- Central heating more than 12-15 years old: it will need to be replaced within three to five more years.
- Flaking, sticking or rotten windows: it can cost up to £1,000 to replace each damaged window.
- Damp walls: the further down, or up a wall it is it is, the worse a problem you will have. Basically, you need to carry out an independent inspection to make sure there are no serious problems.
- Dodgy electrics: if you see those old-fashioned flip switches and they are not a modern design affectation, assume you’ll need to rewire. The same goes for rubberised wires and lots of extension leads everywhere: it shows the wiring is inadequate for modern needs.
- Cracks in the walls: this a potential sign of subsidence and not only makes your house expensive to repair and difficult to insure, it also makes it hard to sell.
- Neighbours from hell: the vendors must tell you if they have had disputes with their neighbours. But you should spend a couple of hours in a car, sussing out the locals.
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