Inspecting property is time consuming and it can be confusing and overwhelming. However, with a plan and mental preparation, it doesn’t have to be. To reduce the emotional toll and maximise your time spent inspecting property, we have gathered our top 5 tips to help you strategically inspect property like a professional buyer’s agent!
Your research into the property should start before the property inspection!
To make sure you are focusing your efforts on the right properties rather than wasting time on the wrong properties, check out Google street and aerial views for example. Type the address into Google and look at the neighbouring properties to consider if there are any properties close by that may have a detrimental impact upon the property. Examples to take note of include schools, industrial sites, commercial premises, power lines or water ways immediately surrounding the property. This is a great way of quickly assessing if a property should be added to your shortlist or whether its position rules it out for you. This assessment will also impact upon price assessment of the property. For example, if you are considering a property located on a wide street with well presented homes, this will increase the likely competition and ultimately the price. However, if the property is located next to a factory or on a highway, this will reduce the level of competition and the price.
Inspect the property at different times of the day and night.
Properties are usually listed for inspection at various times throughout the week. The most common times for inspection are during the day on Saturdays and during the evenings on a weeknight. The amount of natural light inside a property is a key feature, so it is important to attend the property at different times to assess the levels of natural light. Remember in winter, the sun is lower, and the daylight hours are reduced whereas in summer, the sun is higher so levels of natural light should automatically be higher during summer. The optimum aspect to capture the greatest amount of natural light in Sydney is north or north east facing but don’t always rule out a property on aspect alone. It is always important to physically inspect a property. For example, a south facing property may have a layout or street position which captures sufficient natural light. And similarly, a north facing property may be impacted by tall neighbouring buildings or trees. Inspecting during the daylight also allows you to check out the neighbouring properties. For example, is there vacant land next door? Is there enough privacy from other buildings? If you only inspect the property during an evening viewing, you won’t be able to see what surrounds the property.
Step back from your emotional connection to the property for a minute to consider whether it ticks your boxes objectively.
You need to be critical when inspecting a property and examine each room in detail. Take a copy of the floor plan to orientate yourself (and for future recall) and walk through each room with a mental or physical checklist of your non-negotiable items. For example, note the bedroom sizes. Forget about the single bed styling and consider if the room suits your minimum requirements. Consider the living zones: Is there enough space for living, lounge and dining to suit your living requirements? If the inspection is too busy making it difficult to inspect all areas of the property, let the agent know and ask for a private inspection at an alternative time.
Do your thorough checks of the property and make sure the important things work.
Check big ticket items such as garage door remotes and air conditioning. If you are hiring a budling and pest inspector to inspect the property, they can check the appliances are in working order (if it is too awkward for you to test during the inspection). Checking the property thoroughly also includes inspecting the property in terms of its practical use. If you require a car space for example, check if your car will fit in the garage or carport. In the case of an apartment complex, walk the path from the street to the car space and check the access is practical. Walk around the living areas and assess if the furniture is a practical size or if it is just for show. Walk into the shower and check if the ceiling is high enough and the shower head is a practical height. Open doors, and cupboards to check how practical the storage space is.
Check access to the property and its overall amenity.
Buyers should consider how convenient and accessible the property is compared to their living needs and long-term plans. Are you looking for a property with stairs for example? If the property is run-down or if you have plans to renovate or extend, consider the ease of access which will become important considerations for builders and tradespeople. Check if there is side and/or rear access. If the property is attached on both sides without rear lane access, how easy or difficult will it be to move large items, renovate or landscape? And within the property itself, check the layout. Is the layout open and comfortable with decent living space, or is the floor plan closed in and tricky to navigate? These are all important features to check because in isolation, each room may tick the boxes, however buyers should bear in mind that the overall amenity and flow of a property will impact upon its long-term enjoyment.
As Sydney’s leading buyers’ agents for busy professionals, we are constantly inspecting properties on behalf of our clients. If you need help inspecting and assessing property or are too busy to drop everything and attend inspections, call expert Sydney Buyers’ Agents, Nick Viner on 0405 134 645.
