Three quarters of Brits don't make these vital checks when buying a new house

EXPERTS REVEAL THE CHECKS BRITS SHOULD MAKE WHEN LOOKING FOR A NEW HOUSE AS RESEARCH SHOWS THE MAJORITY FAIL TO DO SO

The suspension of stamp duty provides buyers a chance to move without some of the added costs. The suspension which lasts until the end of June, has led to house asking prices rising by 6.6% in the final quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

When looking for a new home, it is vital for buyers to have a list of what is important to check so that they’re not left with any nasty surprises later on down the line.

New research by luxury bathroom specialists, Big Bathroom Shop asked homeowners about the checks they make when looking for a new house, revealing that over three quarters (76%) fail to check for what experts describe as some of the most important issues to look out for.

Following a Which? report revealing that 11%** don’t conduct any checks when viewing a property, experts at Big Bathroom Shop have worked alongside Andrew Weir, Real Estate Investment Advisor at London Central Portfolio to explain why we need to make checks before buying.

Of the 1,003 homeowners polled, over 60% admit to not making what experts rate as the most important checks to do and things to look out for when viewing a property.

Nearly two thirds (61%) don’t check for mould which experts explain is the most important thing to look out for. When it comes to mould, Andrew explains that if it is minor it won’t cause problems but should still be treated immediately. If it is at the bottom of walls and in dark furry patches, it could be rising mould and the longer it is left the more damaging it can be to a property, potentially leaving you with a huge bill to fix, and in some cases demolishing the room.

To spot mould, John Lawless from Big Bathroom Shop explains “Bathrooms make for the dream breeding ground for mould with perfect settings of warmth and damp air. If this collects around grouting and taps it can be easily removed with a spray cleaner. Rising damp which can look like a collection of dark fuzzy patches from the floor upwards and into the walls can be an expensive job to fix and best left to the professionals.”

Not far behind, another key thing people should look out for is damp of which 62% don’t check. This is fairly similar to mould in the way it can be spotted easier than most problems but can end up being a sign that something is leaking or not functioning properly.

With the majority failing (76%) to check the water pressure of the house, Andrew states that this can be the most important check for a bathroom as it often proves to be difficult to improve in a home, causing big problems in the long run.

Just under three quarters aren’t making checks for ventilation (71%) which Andrew says is vital, ensuring any windows offer strong enough protection and don’t allow draughts. If the bathroom does not have a window, check for an extractor fan and if it is visible externally and not venting into a void somewhere in the building.

Less than one in ten (7%) check if all the wet areas are sealed and tanked which can cause water problems in the future, as well as leading to other issues like damp and mould.

The research shows that Brits don’t focus too much on checking for problems when viewing a house, with simple things being missed such as grout (76%), whether the toilet flushes (78%) and the size of the room or features (87%).

The top 10 checks that buyers aren’t making

1. Bath or shower is sealed – 93%
2. Room measurements/size – 87%
3. Heating – 82%
4. Toilet flush – 78%
5. Water pressure – 76%
6. Grout – 76%
7. Ventilation – 71%
8. Cracks – 66%
9. Damp – 62%
10. Mould – 61%

John Lawless, content marketing manager for Big Bathroom Shop, commented “Finding out later on that the dream house you thought you bought has many problems will leave you with a real financial headache, so spend an extra few minutes when going around the house to ask questions and make the checks needed. It’s not a big task compared to how long you will spend in your new home!”