When it comes to buying, selling, or renovating property, you will come across a handful of issues more frequently than others. There are certain property defects which are quite common, and it is important to know which ones appear with the most frequency so you can prepare for them or know to look for them.
But, what tends to crop up most often? Well, let’s take a look at some of the different challenges that you will typically face with new property, so you can make an educated attempt to locate them before you explore purchasing or renovating a property.
The Damp
Unfortunately, damp is a major problem which occurs quite a lot. The damp parts of the building can be very problematic to deal with, and they do occur quite frequently owing to a lack of ventilation, or simply a poor exposure to the elements.
When dealing with damp, you need to make sure that you are carefully checking to find where it originates from, seeing how far it spread, and making sure that it hasn’t affected the structural integrity of the building. Damp can be a serious problem if left untreated, so you need to make sure you nip it in the bud when you encounter it.
Roof Issues
The roof is a vital component of your building, but it can also be very easily damaged and left unfixed for a while. In fact, it is one of the biggest common property defects out there.
A problem of some description with the roof is exceptionally common when it comes to most properties. There may be an area which has been damaged by the elements, or something that needs replacing, or even a straight up hole. Ultimately, it’s important to make a point of checking the roof carefully before you make any kind of purchase, because roof issues are very common.
Structural Damage
Structural damage is unfortunately one of the most common elements that you’re going to be running into when it comes to new properties.
Cracks in the walls, warped support beams, damage to load-bearing walls, these are all very common. It’s important to do a careful inspection of any signs of structural damage, because this can very quickly become a massive financial issue to fix. Structural damage can severely impact the overall value of the property, so it’s important to find and identify it well in advance.
In conclusion, purchasing any new property will require you to take a look at some of the different potential common property defects.
A lot of places have some very common issues, which means that you need to take a look at what problems exist and how it will affect your investment.
Naturally, you have to take into consideration the time and resources that will be required to correct the problem, and whether or not this changes the viability of your financial purchase. Do not be afraid to challenge a property owner over any of these issues, to get the information that you need to make an informed decision.
A must have is an RICS HomeBuyers Report, while they are an upfront cost, they represent a huge insight into the property, its defects and costs!
If you’d like to discuss how our Surveyors can be of assistance, give us a call today.
