New homes, especially condos, have grown in popularity over the past decade, but many people still prefer to buy resale property. There are various reasons for this. For example, it can be difficult to find new properties in specific areas. Additionally, some people just prefer buying a completed unit.
When it comes to buying a resale property, the most important part of the process is the inspection. All resale property is bound to have some wear and tear, so don’t be turned off if things aren’t perfect. On the other hand, you do need to draw a line between what is reasonable to expect and what’s over the top.
This is where the inspection comes in. Before you agree to buy a resale property, you are going to want to conduct a thorough inspection to make sure everything is in order. With that in mind, here are a few things you’re going to want to look for.
Tips for resale property inspections
1) Check the walls
Be sure to inspect the walls, paying attention to two things. The first is cracks. The easiest way to tell a good property from a bad one is if the walls are cracking. While these cracks aren’t usually dangerous, they do suggest the developer may have used average products during construction.
The second thing to keep an eye out for is paint. See if there is any paint cracking or chipping. This could be a sign that you’ll need to repaint the property. Also, look for any pictures, mirrors or other oddly placed objects. The owner may be trying to cover up some sort of wall damage.
See more: 3 small details that can add value to your condo unit
2) Ask for past utilities bills
The utilities bill will provide you with some imperfect insights about the resale property you’re inspecting. If the bill seems high, you’ll want to investigate the windows, air conditioner and general layout to see what is causing this. Older windows or inefficient AC units may require replacing if they look to be the culprit.
And if the bill seems cheap, dig a little deeper to see if there are any clues as to why this may be. Are there a lot of fans around? Does the AC unit look new? If you still have questions or concerns, you can always ask the owner for an explanation.
3) Bring a second set of eyes
No matter how good of an inspector you think you are, it is always good to have a friend or significant other come with. Not only can they act as a secondary observer scanning for things you may have missed, but they’ll also provide you with general feedback. Perhaps there was something they liked or disliked that you hadn’t even thought of.
Looking for resale property? Start your search on Dot Property today!