Recommendation For How To Select A Second-Hand House

Many people who are looking for second-hand house face with hesitant and headache when choosing a second-hand house.

Here are the basics which you should know;

1. Location

We usually know where we would like to buy the house, but if it is still undecided, location maybe considered from these factors

    1)    Proximity from work, traffic situation to and from work so to reduce commuting, you may prefer to find a house that is not too far from work (just make sure that you will stay working there for a long time!)

 

    2)    Basic utilities such as water, electricity, telephone, including the internet.

 

    3)    Transportation, easy access to public transportations is also important

 

    4)    Proximity to important locations such as schools, hospitals, police stations, market or minimarts, etc.

 

    5)    The upcoming development of the location, considering the chances of the property or its surrounding being developed further or the trend will remain the same, or deteriorate.

 Check for government future development plans to see if the location might be affected if it will be expropriated due to highways or expressway building.

2. Environment

This is the advantage of buying a second-hand house, you can actually see the surrounding and of the house, the neighbors, the neighborhoods, noise or light pollution, factories and crime rate in the area.

 

3. Price And Loan Conditions

Comparing the price of the houses in the area, easier if it is a gated community. Consider the appraisals, and interest rate from the bank, the load conditions, terms and conditions when buying the house, and negotiating with the seller of the house.

 

4. Conditions Of The House

This is a very important part, because if you make a wrong decision, the lack of a thorough examination may cause us to have a fussy and headache. Will cost a lot more in the future Therefore, we would like to emphasize on home inspection with the following suggestions

    1)    Structure

Inspect the main structure, such as columns, beams, walls and floors for cracks, see if see if there are signs of subsidence, ask to see the original plan of the house which will allow us to know how much the house has changed or if there are additional modifications that may cause problems  the future.


    2)    Floor

Check for any deformities, shrinkage, decaying, cracking or damaged from moisture, deterioration of coating for wooden floor. If the floor is marble, granite tile, there may not be any problems. Check for cracks, bulging, and stains to see how much work will have to be done to restore it.


    3)    Walls, ceilings

Check the wall and ceilings for signs of color peeling inside and outside any leaks.


    4)    Water Supply

Check water pipes, waste water pipe clogging, when all the taps are closed the water meter is still spinning, if yes, it is assumed that there may be a leakage.


    5)    Electrical system

Check if all the lights and switches work, and safety system.


    6)    Termites

Another important item that should not be overlooked is termite. If the house was empty for some time, there might be termite infestation, even if the house is not empty, termite problems might also be there. Termites can damage the structure of the house and cause a lot of problems that cost a lot to fix. Therefore, checking for termites or to see if the house has been treated for termite problems or whether it has any termite control system installed, check with the owner for certificate from the exterminator.

* Even if there is no trace of pest control found, before moving in, inspect that there is no termite, and proceed to acquire termite control service to prevent future infestation.

After checking the conditions of the house, assess the needs for repair and renovation and the cost for doing so, combine that with the  selling price of the house to further assess the value for money.