3 Checks to Make Before Buying a New Home
We each have a different idea of what the perfect home feels like, and when it comes to house hunting it’s a fine art that uses both the left brain (logical) and right brain (emotional).
We are often focused on finding a good deal in financial terms, but when you consider what a home actually is, it is a lot more than the bricks and mortar you purchase; it’s a feeling and an emotional energy that cannot be purchased, it must be created.
Whatever home looks like or feels like for you, it’s clear there’s a big difference between the feeling of walking into a house that feels like a “home” and a house that is just a house.
The feeling of home often boils down to a sense of belonging and a sense of certainty that provides the comfort, security and stability for you and your family to flourish. We often make the mistake of thinking this feeling of safety and security, for instance, is something that comes from the strong UPVC doors that are fitted with double locks, but actually it’s a lot more energetic and emotional than the tangible security of your home.
This article looks at three checks to make when house hunting to ensure you buy a happy home.
- LIFE ESSENTIALS
You will want to check small details such as whether your phone has full signal in the property. The other thing you will want to consider doing on this front, is a postcode check to find out the maximum speed of the internet, which is particularly relevant if you’re thinking of moving to the countryside or working from home.
You’ll also want to consider the sociable appeal of the property; for instance, is the garden overlooked by the neighbours to the point you won’t have privacy when sunbathing, and is the garden suitable for how you wish to use it.
- THE SOUND
An often overlooked aspect when property hunting is the sound of the property. Is the property quiet and peaceful to the point you can relax in comfort or can you hear the neighbours arguing, dogs barking, or children crying through the walls of the next door neighbour?
Is there a busy road next to the property that will keep you awake, or a school playground nearby that might distract you if you’re working from home. How about the traffic? Will you be woken up each morning to lorries and cars congesting the roads?
- THE AREA
Ideally, you will want to meet the neighbours before making a commitment to buy as they are often a much more reliable source of information in terms of the local area than the estate agent. Furthermore, your neighbours could have a significant impact on the sense of home you crave, so it can be good to check out who you will actually be living next to.
It can be wise to spend a night in a local hotel, bed and breakfast or better yet, an AirBnB on the road you’re thinking of living in to fully experience the area.
It isn’t just how the area will be once you move in, either. There are many questions to ask yourself about accessibility, from the removals company being able to find your new home – which is a strong concern if you move away into the countryside – to having friends and family visit you once you’ve settled in.
There are also things like schools and safety. Your kids might feel isolated if living in the middle of nowhere, which can severely impact their mental wellbeing. Roads and other access options, such as public transport, can also make things difficult. If you remember these issues, you’ll be able to make a better decision about whether it’s the right property for you.