Common Problems House Buyers Should Look Out For

Buying a new home – whether it’s your first, or your fourth – is an exciting life event. However, it can also be fraught with difficulty, particularly if you are not scrupulous about vetting your potential new property. No matter how old they are or in what state of repair, houses can come with a wide range of issues, some of which may be harder to spot than others.

Fortunately, with the right knowledge and assistance, it is possible to weed out the damaged properties from the sound ones. With that aim in mind, and to help you avoid some potentially disastrous pitfalls, here are some of the most common problems that buyers should be on the lookout for when checking out potential homes.

Structural Damage

Structural problems are arguably the most important warning signs to look out for, as not only can the compromised integrity lead to hefty repair bills, but the home may even be unsafe to live in. If you do have any concerns about a property that you’re interested in buying, it may be a good idea to have a building survey carried out. Is this your first time buying a house? Then you may be wondering, “But what is a building survey, and do I need one?

To answer your queries, a building survey is a detailed analysis of a particular property, which covers everything from when and how it was built, to inspecting the roof and walls and checking for subsidence and water drainage issues. If you want to be sure that the house you want to buy is safe, secure, and has no serious problems, then a building survey can give you all the answers you need.

Electrical Issues

Before committing to buying a new home, you should make sure that the wiring is in good working order, with no loose or naked wires or any other faults that could cause problems or pose a safety risk. If you have a building survey conducted, this should flag up any potential issues with the wiring. If any problems are discovered, then it’s important that you call out an experienced electrician to carry out tests and rectify any problems before you sign any paperwork. You should also be sure to ask the vendor for any certificates they have that detail when the central heating was last tested.

Poor Ventilation

Good ventilation is crucial for a healthy home and a healthy family. In fact, a poorly ventilated property can contribute to a number of mental and physical health issues, including sick building syndrome and respiratory disorders caused by related problems, such as a build-up of black mould. To prevent these kinds of worrying health issues, check that your potential new home has effective ventilation. To determine this, there are several things to look out for.

For one thing, the quality of the air inside the home should be fresh and clean, with no underlying odours. For another thing, when inspecting the windows, you shouldn’t find much condensation, or any signs of mildew or mould accumulating around the window frames. You should also make sure that every room has at least one window, including the toilets and bathrooms, as this is vital for fresh air circulation.

Problematic Plumbing

Dodgy plumbing is another common problem to look out for, particularly if you’re buying an older property with aged and possibly rusted pipes. When viewing a potential home, make sure all of the faucets work correctly and that the toilets flush and the bath or shower runs without any issues. Faulty plumbing can be inconvenient at best and very costly at worst, so it’s important to make sure there are no major issues with your new home.

Infestation

Finally, another common issue that you should be on your guard against is an infestation of some type of pest, whether it’s rats, fleas, or termites. The presence of pests can not only pose a variety of health risks, depending on the type of animal but can also result in damage to the property over time. As a result, if you think your potential new home has an infestation, it’s important to get it thoroughly checked out. There are a number of common signs to look out for that can reveal that a house is prey to some type of pest – from droppings and odours to footprints and even signs of nesting.

Of course, just because you see these signs, doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea of purchasing a particular home, as infestations are always treatable. However, you may want to consider the scale of the infestation and whether or not any significant damage has been done to the home, which may need rectifying before you move in.

Final Thoughts

Purchasing a home is a huge commitment, so it helps to know what signs to look out for, to help ensure that you are not buying a property that will be problematic or even unhealthy to live in. Taking some time to get a home thoroughly checked out for any major issues can save you significant time and money and will help to ensure that you pick the right place for you and your family.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

Best Budget Smartphones Under $200

In the rapidly advancing digital era, it’s no longer a luxury but a necessity to have a smartphone. Not everyone however needs or is able to pay hundreds of dollars for an expensive device. The good news is that there are numerous budget smartphones under $200 that provide great performance, decent cameras, and a long…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Ten years on: More first-time buyers moving to cities while the coast stands still

New ten-year analysis of the property market shows that more first-time buyers are looking to move to cities, while the coast has seen no growth in new buyers First-time buyer demand to move to Great Britain’s 50 largest cities (excluding London) is up by 16% on average over the last ten years, with Dundee topping…
Read More
Breaking News

Homeowners in England and Wales overvalue their properties by an average of 16%

Homeowners in England and Wales are overestimating the value of their property by an average of 16%, according to new figures. Data from Quick Move Now compares homeowner estimates with formal estate agent valuations and is broken down by both region and property type. Overall, homeowners overvalue in every single category.   Regional breakdown Region…
Read More
Visual blemishes on Roads due to service upgrades
Estate Agent Talk

Emergency Sidewalk Repairs: When to Act and Who to Call

Sidewalks are the unsung heroes of city infrastructure—quietly assisting tens of millions of footsteps every day. But when they crack, disintegrate, or shift all of sudden, they might quickly turn out to be volatile liabilities. In a town like New York, in which pedestrian site visitors are constant and belongings proprietors are legally chargeable for…
Read More
Breaking News

Reapit report reveals agents’ long-term market confidence amid legislative challenges

Despite the significant challenges posed by a shifting economic landscape and the largest wave of housing legislation in decades, estate and letting agents remain steadfast in their confidence about their long-term future in the industry. According to the first Reapit Property Outlook Report 2025, covering the full breadth of sales and lettings agency opinion countrywide,…
Read More
Breaking News

Owner-Occupiers Drive Resilient Commercial Property Market

Buying Becomes 37% Cheaper Than Renting The latest Commercial Property Demand Index from specialist property finance expert, Rangewell, reveals that while investor appetite across the sector held steady in Q2, strong levels of owner-occupied commercial mortgage activity are helping drive market performance, as business owners increasingly move from renting to buying their long-term premises for…
Read More