So you have saved enough for your first house and you are on a house hunting spree, looking at all the brochures and asking around gathering information. Consider these thing before making the final decision.
Always Try to Opt for A New House.
Try as far as possible to avoid buying an old house. No matter how well a house has been maintained, wear and tear is inevitable. There are places that cannot be maintained. It might look new on the outside but consider these areas.
Plumbing- all the pipework are embedded in the wall. you will never know the true conditions of these pipes.
Sewerage – All sewerage pipes are underground. You will also never know if it is about to clogged up.
Electrical Wiring.- All Electrical wires are concealed in the walls, and you will never be able to determine the condition of the wires.
Roof Structure. – You can’t determine if the beams and roof structure has been invaded by termites
Taking these pointers into consideration, if the situation permits, buy a brand new house. The best time to buy a house is when the housing developer is just about to start the earth work and foundation of the house. This way, you can keep an eye in the progress and make provisions for things that are not provided for by the developer in your S & P agreement. Most developers will be accomodating if you don’t interfere with their progress. However, there are also things that you should consider before choosing a new house in a new housing estate.
The land that the house is built on. – If you are new to the area, ask the locals there about the history of the land. Find out if it was a swamp or a pond that has been reclaimed. Avoid buying houses on such lands.
Is The Area Flood Prone – Again try to find out if that area is prone to floods. No body wants to stay in a flood prone area.
Does the Neighborhood has a high crime rate – Avoid it if it is.
Proximity- Is it convenient for your school going kids. For marketing.
Sit down and give serious consideration for many other nitty gritty things.I magine yourself staying there and run the daily schedules in your head. See if there is any problems that would crop up. If after all consideration and the house is perfect for you then you should make arrangements for these things when the building is in progress.
The Termite Exterminator – Get them in before the foundation is laid so the land can be properly protected from termites. Make arrangements with them to come back when the roof structure comes up. They will advise you on where are the places that needs to be protected.
The Plumber - Plan out your water layout carefully. All standard houses comes with just the basic layout. You should plan where you want what placed. Make provisions for your Washing Machine, extra basins, water heaters etc that are not included in the actual layout.
The Electrician - You will need Air Cons, Water Heaters, Ovens, HiFi Sets, Extra Lights and Fans, etc etc. make sure you have the socket outlets added to the proper location.
The Tiler- You might not like the floor tiles that are given in the package. Have them changed to the ones of your choice before they lay in the actual ones.
The Painter – Most developers will use low quality paints. Get a better quality ones for them before they start painting your house.
Most developers will try to go along but of course they are going to charge you for the extras. Some are very reasonable. If you opt to buy your own tiles and paint, they might deduct the cost of paint and tiles from your paying price. Of course then there are some blood suckers too. They will never refund you the money. You can’t do much if they are such other than pinching your own pockets, but it is better to have it done as the work progresses rather than to wait until everything is handed over to you and then spend more by breaking away and replacing the tiles or chipping away the walls to add new light or water points.