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 Doing the Research |
09 Oct 08 |
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consumerbuild |
Doing the research
You may look at dozens of houses before you buy or only a few. Either way, you can find the right home with thorough research. We look at the important matters to investigate.
Buyer beware!
Before you buy a new home, whether it is not yet built, newly built, or an older home, it is important to research it thoroughly. For most people, buying a house or an apartment is the biggest investment they will make, so it is wise to go into it knowing as much as possible, including any defects or potential problems.
When you purchase an older house you are likely to be buying into some problems. Homes that have been neglected can have problems with the structure, roof, plumbing, electrics and gas, which can pose a risk to the overall integrity of the building, as well as your safety and wellbeing after you move in. Even if the house has been well maintained, you can expect a few matters will need to be dealt with, even if it is simply a need for redecoration.
For newer and newly built homes, the problem of weathertightness failure, or at the extreme end, a leaky building, has been a concern for some home owners. Some homes built in the period from early to mid 1990s until around 2003 have shown failures in construction, design, supervision and material installation. You need to take particular care if you are in the market to buy a home identified as being prone to leaking.
The type of houses most at risk of weathertightness failure are often described as ‘Mediterranean style’. Some common characteristics of these houses include:
"Mediterranean style" house
* Flat or low pitched roofs.
* Textured or monolithic claddings (plaster-look).
* Plaster finish carrying down to the ground or deck.
* Deck areas over other rooms.
* Enclosed handrails.
* Decorative fixtures passing through the cladding
* The wall extending past the roof line to form a parapet.
* Internal gutters
* Curved window heads.
* Walls finishing into other walls.
"Complicated" house
* Use of untreated framing (many houses built from 1997 to 2003 used kiln-dried untreated framing).
Other styles of house with complicated roof lines, complex wall and roof junctions, or also having one or more of the features above are also at risk of weathertightness failure. If the house you are buying contains even one of these features, refer to the weathertightness section which gives guidance on what specifically should be looked for.
When you find a home you are interested in buying, make sure your money will be well spent:
Do your own research into the area and the state of the home.
Before you sign a sale and purchase agreement, make it conditional on getting a satisfactory:
* Title Search.
* Land Information Memorandum.
* Valuation.
* Property inpection.
* Finance.
Source
www.consumerbuild.org.nz
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