Don’t get duped into buying a problem home

As experts on the old houses of Sydney, we know that many houses have old, breaking or already broken sewers lurking underneath that pretty semi-detached Federation or sweet little terrace. And it’s a nightmare for a buyer as the cost to repair always runs into the thousands of dollars. If you think your building inspector will find it – they won’t.  So take these easy steps and make sure you’re getting value for money on the property market.

  • Run the water in all the drains and flush the toilets. If they are slow to drain, have a drain camera inspection of the sewer system. It will be the best $400 you ever spent, give us a call today to book a professional camera inspection.
  • Look for cracked tiles in the shower, around sinks, or near water pipes in the home. Loose or hollow tiles can be an indication that there is, or was, a leak that has caused rotting underneath or behind the tile.
  • Be aware of ‘Staging,’ the practice of positioning a house on the market as more appealing than what is actually is. This can be as simple as putting fresh flowers in every room or as serious as covering up water stains with furniture and cracks with paintings.
  •  Finally, speak to neighbours or local residents about the property, they may give you valuable information that estate agents haven’t told you.

Sometimes it’s what lies beneath the shiny surfaces…..