Has it happened to you that you make a purchase and the product or service does not meet the expectations you had? This is something you definitely want to avoid when it comes to buying or renting a property. There is nothing better than moving into your new home and knowing 100% that it is exactly what you need and that everything is in order. But things do not happen out of nowhere, like everything in life, a real estate investment requires a prior study and also a thorough review of the property.
Don’t miss out on this checklist of items to consider before renting or buying.
What is the checklist for every room in the property?
There are some very important factors that should be checked in all the rooms of the house and if any of them has an imperfection, ask the owner and your real estate advisor what can be done before you sign a sales contract. That is, make sure that whatever the inconvenience the owners are willing to fix it on their own. Or take it into consideration when visiting other homes, which may be in better condition.
Some of the items to review include:
- Inspect walls for cracks, dings, mold, stains, or scratches.
- Check that the floor is not scratched, dented or with raised tiles
- Make sure doors are not squeaky or squeaky and that locks work
- Verify that the windows open and close properly
- If there are air conditioners, check for their warranty and make sure they work
- Check that the canoes are well uncovered, that there is good plumbing and that the roof does not have leaks
- Check all the electrical outlets, ask about the state of the electrical installation, especially if it is an old house
In the kitchen
In addition to all the above, it is very important to make another extra check in certain rooms of the property, for example in the kitchen. If the sale of the house includes certain appliances such as dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, etc, make sure that they work well. For example, check the lights and the ventilation of the oven, that the sink has a good stream of hot and cold water, that the shelves and the pantry are in good condition: no grime, signs of pests such as cockroaches or ants.
In the bathroom
This is another key room that needs your own revision Both the guest bathrooms and the more private ones must be in excellent condition. To do this, make sure that there is good water pressure, that the hot water reaches well, that there are no leaks, that the sink is well sealed and that the tiles are sealed.
What to ask the owner?
Now, of course, in addition to discussing the terms of payment and the price of the property itself, you need to cover certain topics to be sure that your investment is the best move. And there are several things that cannot be verified with the naked eye when you check the property. Therefore it is always good to ask the owner directly – and sometimes the neighbors to get the full version of the story -.
- What is the lifestyle in the area?
Depending on the location of the house there may be a lot or little movement of people, vehicles, nightlife, noise, etc. Analyze the area to know how traveled it is even if it is a condominium or a residential. Also ask what the atmosphere is like at night, when most likely you will not be able to make a face-to-face visit to verify it yourself. Is there a lot of noise from cars or people? You can even ask about the neighbors, are they reserved, conflictive, do they play an instrument or play the music too loud? - Can you have pets ?
Especially if it is rented there are usually more restrictions regarding the stay of pets, or even in some condominiums they are not allowed. Ask if there is a nearby space where you can walk, how many pets are allowed, what size, what other related services are nearby such as pet shops and veterinarians, if other neighbors have pets or how they feel about it … - How much would you spend monthly on water, electricity and other services such as internet or cable?
Of course, you can hire some of these services with other different companies than those used by the current owners. But it is always good to ask to get a basic idea. Obviously, your consumption will be different from theirs, but it is true that there is a minimum line that must be considered as an extra monthly expense to be able to supply the entire house, depending on its size. Ask for invoices from previous months, compare those rates with the ones you currently pay and consider different possibilities for savings.
Don’t be shy about asking these questions and doing everything on this checklist for a property, you must make sure that you are putting your money in the right place and you have every right to do so. Remember that for that there are also real estate advisers, who can guide you in this type of process and in fact verify this checklist with you when visiting a property of your interest.
