For anyone buying or renting, it can be tempting to accept a deal on the very first property you view.
After all, supply across the market is low and as people race to secure a home those who hesitate can be left disappointed.
But this often comes with the risk of being left with buyers or renters’ remorse.
Property expert Jonathan Rolande, the founder of House Buy Fast, said: “It’s understandable that those looking for somewhere to live might jump at the first opportunity that comes along. After all, like anything, when supply is low the standards you are willing to accept can drop.
“But although there is no better feeling than getting the keys to a new house, it can quickly become a nightmare if that property is home to hidden problems.
“You might end up spending thousands and thousands of pounds to repair them. This can leave you in so much debt you aren’t able to really enjoy what should be an exciting new chapter in your life.”
According to Jonathan there are eight main things that should ring alarm bells and which you should check on before signing on the dotted line..
He explains: “One, have you checked the neighbours – you can change things about the home you buy but not them. Are the homes nearby maintained well? Are any running a business from home that could be noisy? Check the number of bells outside to see if any are let as multi-units. Find out when bin day is – pop round in the evening and see if people have brought them back in, if they haven’t it can indicate a lack of pride in the area.
“Check the outside of the home you’re interested in. Have similar houses nearby been upgraded, this could mean there’s potential to extend in some way. On the other side of the coin, have other houses had a new roof or is there cracking? That could mean yours is affected too.
“Type the road name into Google and search it generally by clicking ‘all’, but also click ‘news’. You might discover something recently that could put you off—antisocial neighbours, a high local crime rate, or worse.
“On the inside, open and close internal doors to see if they fit well. If they don’t, it could be a sign of movement or subsidence.
“Is there cracking in brickwork or pointing? In houses built after 1930, wall tie corrosion is common and quite expensive to rectify.
“Look at the manhole covers in the garden. Hopefully, they will be covered in dust and grime with no clear edge. If they look like they have been lifted recently, it can indicate a defect.
“Check that the plug sockets are modern. Also, check the fuse board to indicate if you need to rewire as a priority.
“And finally, check for trees—are they near the house? Are they ‘thirsty’ varieties such as Conifers? If so, they could cause subsidence or drain issues. Don’t panic about them but it is worth investigating further, just in case.