You’ve finally found your perfect house and now it’s time to sign on the dotted line. Congratulations! But there’s still a lot of work left to do before you can call your new home officially yours. You wouldn’t like to be sitting in your new home without a great deal of focus and attention to detail, now would you? If you don’t take care of the small things, your new home could end up costing you much more in the long term. Here are the 7 most important things to check on before taking possession of your new home.
Drainage
A landscaping survey is important to assess if the original drainage system is adequate enough to support your new home. Your water drainage system should help divert rainwater from inside your home, into the soil and away from the foundation. You can get services of drain survey in London to conduct a survey in your planned house. By using CCTV, a surveyor can go through all the nooks and corners of your new home. This is to ensure that there are no blocked sewage pipes, water drainage systems or sewer lines that may be causing flooding problems.
Windows and doors
Before moving into a new home, you should consider checking the condition of all windows and doors. You wouldn’t want your home to be flooded or have small holes in the roof while you are waiting on a repairman to arrive. You should make sure that the window openers are in good condition, as well as locks and weather strips. With these items in bad condition, a burglar can simply break into your house, or the window could easily be blown open.
Appliances
You should make sure that all the appliances, including your heating system and air conditioner, are in good working order. Your heating system should be equipped with the necessary tools to help you control its functioning. You should be in a position to know when you need to replace the filters, as well as the temperature setting and heating zones. Your cooling system should have enough ventilation to adequately cool your house while maintaining a low noise level.
Utilities
Before you move into your new home, make sure that there are no leaks in your water, gas or electrical connections. You should be checking for leaks by putting food colouring into your plumbing system. Wait a few hours to see if the water has coloured. If it has, then the lines are leaking. Do not move into your new home without a repairman to check. By having a routine check, you will be able to notice any leaks and also make repairs before any damage occurs to your house.
Paintwork
You should make sure that the paint on the walls of your new home is in good condition before moving into it. If there’s cracked and flaking paint, then you should have it repaired as soon as possible. There are many techniques to paint walls. Inspect the paint on your external walls and check for visible cracks and flaking.
Flooring
The condition of the floor of your new home is critical to the long-term maintenance, in addition to its value. You should inspect the floors and joists in your new home for any defects or rot. You should also check for loose boards and protruding nails that will need to be remedied. In addition, you should use a moisture meter to detect any areas of damp.
Roof
While you’re conducting your inspection, you should check your roof for any damaged and loose tiles or slates. The roof, in addition to the walls, is a major element of the visual appeal of your home. As well as the slates, inspect the rafters, joists and fascias – especially if it’s an old building. Furthermore, look out for signs of termite infestation such as holes or nests.
By checking all these details before moving into your new home, you’ll ensure that your new home is in good condition. You’ll cut down the overall expenses of maintaining it and reduce the risk of any unexpected repair jobs. The most important thing is that, when you’re taking possession of your new home, you don’t get caught out by unforeseen costs.
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