| When buying a new home (not newbuild) for | | | | will give you some peace of mind, and remember |
| peace of mind remember to check out these | | | | this is definitely not a point your legal eagles will |
| points.Has any building work been carried out on | | | | always answer satisfactorily. It is certainly |
| the property since the current owners moved in, | | | | something you are best doing yourselfIs vehicle |
| and if so, who was it done by, and is it still under | | | | parking in the area easily and freely available for |
| warranty? Warranties are usually transferable and | | | | you and your visitors? If it isn't, you might find |
| you may as well grab them if you can.What is the | | | | your visitors visit less, though only would know if |
| average cost of the utility bills, the gas, electricity, | | | | that was a good thing.Has the property you are |
| heating, water, and local government taxes? | | | | buying, or indeed any of the neighbouring houses |
| These can vary hugely from place to place, and | | | | ever been robbed. Is it located in an area known |
| could make a big difference to your total | | | | for house breaking and burglaries? If the owner |
| outgoings. You need to know.Does the garden or | | | | seems strangely reluctant to answer that, you |
| yard get sunshine, and if so at what time of the | | | | might wonder why, and you could ask your local |
| day, or is the area prone to flooding at certain | | | | police sergeant.How quickly do the owners want |
| times of the year? Take particular interest in this | | | | you to move? This might suit you, but equally it |
| point if the property is located close to a river or | | | | might not. Check it out for peace of mind.How |
| the coast. Placid rivers in the summer can be | | | | long has the property been up for sale? If it has |
| torrential beasts in winter. Lapping waves can | | | | been on the market for many months, or even |
| soon become giants. Imagine that, as you stare | | | | years, that's a sure sign that something may not |
| out across the shimmering blue sea.Are there any | | | | be right. Perhaps the price is too dear, perhaps |
| trees planted close to the property? These can | | | | the house is falling down, perhaps the neighbours |
| undermine foundations and cause serious damage. | | | | are appalling. Whatever the reason, you need to |
| Never buy a thatched cottage situated below | | | | know. Delve deeper.If you have children, are |
| large trees. The constant dripping will quickly | | | | there good schools close by? You don't want a |
| damage and rot the roof, and if there are trees | | | | twenty mile drive across the busy city, or difficult |
| overhanging the house, check out if there are any | | | | terrain every morning and afternoon. Good local |
| restrictions in pruning or removing them. A leafless | | | | schools are one of the first things families look for |
| tree in winter can go unnoticed, but that same | | | | when buying a home.Some people leave |
| tree in full leaf in high summer may make the | | | | everything to be checked by their legal team, and |
| property oppressively dark inside.What are the | | | | are then surprised when they run into problems. |
| neighbours like? This is not always an easy | | | | Fact is, legal teams don't check all these items, so |
| question to answer, but we have all seen | | | | it is up to you to do so. Remember, for greater |
| programmes about impossibly awful neighbours, | | | | peace of mind, you can't check too many points, |
| and believe me, you wouldn't want to pitch up | | | | too thoroughly, when buying a new home. |
| next to the neighbours from hell. A little research | | | | |