The property market is more competitive than ever, with thousands of first time buyers trying to climb on the ladder and secure their first home. New build houses are on the increase and with government backed schemes such as help to buy, it’s the perfect time to secure your first home, or move into a new property. With many first time buyers opting for help to buy schemes which come with new properties, not many people are choosing to purchase an older build.
For first time buyers in particular, new build homes are more appealing than an older build, but it’s not always the best choice. More outdated homes come with pros and cons but it’s definitely a route all buyers should explore. Compared to new builds, older homes can often need a lot of maintenance carried out, but it means you can negotiate on the asking price and hopefully get a considerable amount knocked off to cover the repairs.
Whether you’re looking to buy an older home or even if you’ve purchased one already; here are some of the areas you should look out for, and whether or not they need replacing.
How efficient is the boiler?
We all want to be able to have a warm home, especially in the winter months. Having the heating on for long periods of time can mount up in cost, but this could mean your boiler is becoming inefficient. If the same boiler has been used in a home for a number of years, it may start to do more bad than good. If you think your boiler needs replacing, then you can find all the information you need from websites like https://www.certasenergy.co.uk/. Needing a new boiler may seem like a costly replacement, but an old boiler can be extremely inefficient and end up costing you more.
Keeping out the draft
If you’ve replaced your boiler but have bad quality windows, it’s defeating the object as the heat will be escaping and allowing a draft to come into the home. Windows are one of the most common causes of your home being cold and just like a boiler that needs replacing, it can mean an increase in your bills. If your windows are letting in a draft, it doesn’t necessarily mean they need replacing. The problem can easily be resolved by using a sealant to cover over any gaps allowing a draft to enter the home.
Detecting unsafe electrics
With older homes comes the increased risk of unsafe electrics. There are many ways in which you can detect if the electrics in the home need fixing, including flickering lights, sparking plug sockets or even a burning smell around some of the plug sockets. At the first sign of any of these happening, you need to get the electrics looked at. Dealing with electrics is a complicated task so it’s important to get professionals in to resolve the issue.
Above are just some of the areas you need to focus on when buying a new home; especially if it’s an older property. There are many other areas to look out for and if you have some of your own suggestions, then feel free to join in the conversation on social, using the hashtag #FixYourHome.
