Property expert Sarah Beeny says winter is the time to buy a home
TV expert Sarah Beeny tells Deborah Stone how to come out on top when buying a house.
While spring is usually regarded as the best time to put your home on the market, winter is often the best time to buy.
With no tree canopies to hide eyesore views you get to see the bare bones of the building and, once inside, you’ll have an idea of whether you’ll be snug as a bug or just bugged.
Well over half of those who move into a new home find unexpected problems over winter, with broken boilers the biggest issue, says television property expert Sarah Beeny.
Her online estate agency Tepilo.com found that 18 per cent of people moving into a new home have boiler problems, 18 per cent have electrical issues, 17 per cent find their heating doesn’t work properly and the same number have plumbing problems or faulty windows.
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A survey should also pick up on serious or potential problems, so make sure you get a good survey done before completing a house purchase.
More than 2,000 18 to 65-year-olds who had bought a house in the past year or were in the process or planning to buy one took part in the Tepilo.com survey, which found that on average it costs £3,510 to put these problems right.
But if buyers follow Sarah Beeny’s tough but fair viewing plan they might avoid falling victim in the first place.
First: be boiler aware, she says. “A busted boiler in winter is a nightmare and new boilers don’t come cheap. Have a good look at the boiler whenever you view a property to get an idea of its condition and ask the vendor or agent how old it is and whether it’s been regularly serviced.
“Boilers should be serviced every year and the owner should have a service record. If they haven’t, it means it’s probably not been serviced. If it’s an old boiler with no service history, it’s a potential money pit so it’s something you can use to negotiate the asking price down.”
You should also check that radiators work: “If you’re viewing a home on a cold winter’s day and the heating’s off, it could be a sign that something’s amiss. Ask the vendor to switch it on and check each radiator works. Do the same with hot taps.”
And it’s important to investigate the electrics. Old wiring can be dangerous and must be replaced by a professional, which can be expensive.
“Ask how old the electrics are and if they’re over 15 years old, or the current owner doesn’t know the age, it’s worth getting an electrical survey done to find out more,” says Beeny.
“You can also get a good idea about the state of the electrics by looking at the sockets and fuse box. If they look old, then the rest of the electrics probably are too so you need to factor that in when making an offer.”
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Plumbing problems can be harder to spot but Beeny suggests looking for signs of leaks: “Look at walls and ceilings – if they’re stained with water marks or are showing signs of damp, it could be a sign of leaking pipes.
“A survey should also pick up on serious or potential problems, so make sure you get a good survey done before completing a house purchase.”
Beeny even suggests checking windows to make sure they open and close properly: “Broken and faulty windows can be hugely expensive to repair and replace, so check them when looking at homes,” she says.
And finally she advises keeping an eye out for tell-tale signs of mice – or worse: “Droppings and signs of gnawing are major red flags and should never be ignored,” says Beeny, who also says that homes with a cat or dog could mean flea infestations.
Displaying a down-to-earth approach most of us might shy away from, she says: “Ask the vendor if they regularly de-flea their pet. It’s an awkward question but could save you a lot of trouble in the future, so it’s definitely worth asking!”
