The Things People Miss Before Moving Home

You’ve found your perfect new home. CONGRATULATIONS! It’s the right size, location and just waiting for you to put your stamp on it to make it your own.

But is there something you have missed……?

According to research by Compare the Market, over three quarters (77%) of home movers only spot a fault with their new home after moving in. Here’s a list of the most common gripes found buy homemovers:

Damp or Mould (24% of movers missed this): If it’s in the corner of the room or on an outside wall it’s probably caused by poor ventilation, clothes being dried inside or the heating set low and causing cold spots and condensation. Not a big problem to fix and there are plenty of online guides.

If it’s coming down from the ceiling or rising from the floor, this could spell bigger problems.

If you are in anyway concerned, get a damp specialist to take a look and you can potentially use the findings to negotiate a lower purchase price.

Poor Electrics (22%): Not only can poor electrics be costly to fix, but they can also be potentially life threatening. Some things to look out for that may hint towards old or faulty wiring:

Warm or vibrating plug sockets
Flickering or buzzing lights
Loose outlets
Messy or tangled wiring
An old-fashioned fuse box
Frayed or chewed wires
Burning smells

If you spot any of these, get a qualified electrician to take a look for you and use any findings to negotiate on the price or even a reason to walk away

Substandard Plumbing (20%): Even if there aren’t any signs of leaks or a smell of gas when you view the property, this doesn’t mean that it won’t happen in the future if the plumbing is in a bad way.

Water damage is pretty difficult to rectify and can ruin personal belongings. Gas leaks can be potentially fatal.

Take a look at the plumbing under sinks, behind toilets and around the gas mains. If it looks ‘messy’, shows signs of leaks or corrosion, get it checked by a professional

Cosmetics and fixings (19%): When you view a property, it can look lovely and homely, but by the time moving day arrives and all the previous owner’s furniture and belongs have been removed, you may begin to notice that some of the walls are a touch grubby, the carpet looks dirty and the gloss work is chipped or discoloured.

Not too difficult to fix with a lick of paint, some elbow grease and a carpet cleaner, but if things like the kitchen cupboards appear less desirable than you remember this could be costly, so pay close attention when viewing to avoid nasty surprises on move-in day.

Unsatisfactory Central Heating or Even None At All (18%): If it’s a cold day, touch the radiators to see how warm they are. Find out when the boiler (if the property has one) was installed and if it has been regularly serviced. This can prolong the life, but generally boilers last around 10 to 15 years and can cost at least £1,500 to replace.

If there’s no central heating at all, it is likely going to cost a lot of money and disruption to get installed.

Inconvenient Plug Sockets (17%): There’s little more annoying than not having power where you need it. When viewing the property, image where you will be placing your furniture and electrical items and see if there are sockets close by.

Adding plug sockets isn’t usually a massive job but can be messy and is an extra expense to budget for.

Poor Water Pressure (17%): Is there anything worse than a shower that dribbles water? Maybe someone downstairs doing the washing up when you are in there could be worse!

If you’re able to, check that there is enough pressure by running a few taps. You can add pumps to increase the flow if necessary, but again, it’s an added cost to bear in mind.

Lack Of Sunlight In The Garden (15%): A recent survey found that since the pandemic, buyers are placing greater importance on outdoor space. If this is important factor, and you enjoy having the sun beaming down on you, it’s best to find a property with a south-facing garden.

Most phones have a compass built in (or they are about £1 from eBay!), so you can check while you’re there, or maybe before you even view using the likes of google maps.

You’ve found your perfect new home. CONGRATULATIONS! It’s the right size, location and just waiting for you to put your stamp on it to make it your own.

But is there something you have missed……?

If it’s coming down from the ceiling or rising from the floor, this could spell bigger problems.

If you are in anyway concerned, get a damp specialist to take a look and you can potentially use the findings to negotiate a lower purchase price.

Poor Electrics (22%): Not only can poor electrics be costly to fix, but they can also be potentially life threatening. Some things to look out for that may hint towards old or faulty wiring:

Warm or vibrating plug sockets
Flickering or buzzing lights
Loose outlets
Messy or tangled wiring
An old-fashioned fuse box
Frayed or chewed wires
Burning smells