Buying an independent house is a big deal, but it can also be confusing, especially for first-time home buyers. What to consider and what to ask? What warning signs should you watch out for? We found out.
Would our couch fit that? And what about that yard? Could there be a lot installed to watch the stars on dark autumn evenings? Many Finns want to buy an independent house, but buying it can be somewhat confusing, especially if it is a first home. What should you find out about the property, or what to ask the broker?
No worries, we asked for it. Here are some tips to get you started. Make sure you have browsed the best real estate websites before analyzing the below tips.
1. Find out the renovations made to the house and their need
When you go to the home screen, find out before when the house was built and what kind of renovations or renovations have been made to it. You will get an indication of what kind of renovations may be in the near future.
– When you go to the home screen, you can see the condition of the surface materials on the upper sides, and they do not play a big role as a whole. Instead, it is worth finding out when pipes, sewers, drains and the roof will meet their technical service life, says Heinonen.
All of these have lifespans ranging from 30 to 50 years. For example, the roofing materials, the serviced machine seam roof and the brick, are the longest lasting. Instead, the felt roof needs to be renewed more often, perhaps about every twenty years.
Depending on the size of the independent house, replacing a tin roof can cost up to tens of thousands of euros. Instead, the cost of replacing domestic water pipes is around 5,000 euros.
2. Do the premises of an independent house meet your own needs?
When you visit an independent house, see if the facilities meet your own needs.
– It is useless to buy a small house for a large family or a house for a hobby family with no space for hobby equipment. Not everyone needs a big kitchen, while cooks appreciate it, Tanja gives an example.
With facilities, it’s good to think about how much you’re willing to renovate yourself. Do you want an almost ready-to-move-in apartment where the surfaces are immediately pleasing to the eye, or does a skilled renovator peel off?
3. What form of heating is in an independent house?
Heating costs are an essential part and can bite a big notch in your wallet, so it’s worth paying attention to. It is good to find out exactly what kind of heating solution there is in the independent house you want – and whether it is possible to change it.
– For example, water center heating can be converted to wood, pellets or geothermal, while electric radiators alone are more difficult to replace other than by adding forms of heating or energy sources such as an air source heat pump or solar panels, Tanja lists.
The real estate agent therefore recommends that if the independent house has electricity as one heating system, then in addition it would be good to have an energy-saving form of heating, such as a wood stove or an air source heat pump.
4. Are there any risk factors or structures in the independent house?
Houses of different eras may have different risk structures to be aware of. For example, in the 1970s, independent houses were built with a false plinth, which today is classified as a risk structure, but with appropriate measures, the structure is also functional.
– The biggest shortcoming in houses is usually inadequate ventilation. Many indoor air problems could be improved by making it more efficient. Improperly placed replacement air and inefficient exhaust air holes do not produce the desired result.
– Improperly renovated houses are also sad. For example, the ventilation of the upper floor may have been blocked by excessive insulation, the ventilation holes of the basement floor have been blocked, the board-clad façade has been painted with the wrong paints and rooms have been made in the basement without draining the outside, Heinonen lists.
The broker tells you to trust your own nose when you go to the home screen. It’s worth sniffing if the air is fresh because your nose gets used to it quickly. In many cases, stale air indicates poor ventilation. However, it is not necessarily a sign of mold.
5. Find out what it costs
Before you find an independent house that you want to buy, visit a bank to discuss financing options. For example, you will get a clear picture of what kind of apartment you can afford. In addition to the loan repayment, the independent house has current expenses such as heating, water, property tax, electricity, waste management, insurance.
So find out the total amount of what kind of expenses an independent house has on a monthly or yearly basis.
