A new home comes with multitudes of responsibility. There is documentation, paperwork, legalities, booking amounts, down payments, EMI’s, and so much more. However, one thing that should be mandatory for every homebuyer before they conclude on a home and sign off on it is a home inspection.
What is a home inspection one may ask? A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, most often undertaken by the buyer, to make sure that all the parts and areas are in accordance with how they would like it. They are the basic things to check before buying a property.
Here are some essential home inspection elements to check for when purchasing a home.
1. What is the built-up area, saleable area, and carpet area
Always check how much of the total saleable area includes a parking area, how much of the carpet area is being charged for and what is the total built-up area. If needed you can get a personal contractor and have them measure the house and see whether the numbers provided by the builder are accurate.
2. Hot Water
Check the availability of hot water and whether it is available in all the bathrooms of the house, whether there is a designated tap in the kitchen for hot water, and what is the capacity of the geysers provided in the bathrooms by the builder.
3. Piped Gas
Check whether there is piped gas in the building available or whether each home is supposed to have its own private cylinders. For those who may not have registered for a cylinder connection, this is an important aspect.
4. Tile Quality
Do check the quality and brand of tiles provided on the flooring for the home. Also, many builders provide separate kinds of tiles in the halls vs the rooms. Thus, do check what is the quality, quantity and brand for every room.
5. Plywood
Some parts of the home may come inbuilt such as doors and windows for rooms and bathrooms. Check the make of the ply and the brand in order to ensure that it is sturdy and has a long life. Marine ply is preferable for bathroom doors as it is more resistant to water and humidity.
6. Water Hardness
Check the hardness content of the water available through the society. Simple litmus test papers are available where one can check water hardness by themselves. You may want to get a house-wide water softener if the water is top hard for external cleaning and bathing purposes to avoid hard water stains.
7. Bathroom Attachments
Take stock of the number of bathroom attachments that will come in each bathroom and what brand they are from. Bathroom attachments are prone to excessive use and harsh, humid conditions. You may also want to add your own attachments such as a hand shower if the builder has not provided the same.
8. Exterior Constructions/ Attachment Regulations
Most municipal laws prevent any sort of construction on the exterior of the building such as plant holders, awnings, extra grills, mosquito net grills etc. You may want to check with your builder about the laws of the society on this before wanting to install anything.
And these are some essential tips on conducting getting your home inspected. It is an important procedural process while buying a home. Not doing so may lead to regretful problems, especially if you plan on living in the house for a long time.
Conducting a necessary home inspection is not a difficult task but will save you a lot of trouble later. Make sure to get it done before you sign off on the house or purchase it.
Related Post: How To Save For Buying Your First Home
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