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