In simple terms, in the process of a property purchase, there is a buyer and a seller. The seller wants to get the most amount of money he can in the sale and the buyer wants to get, at the very least, value for money if not the lowest possible price. In reality, the two sides are faced with far more complicated considerations. The seller might have already committed to a fixed price (a developer selling from plan as an example) where his main considerations might be on delivering on time and to a fixed budget. The buyer could be an investor looking to rent out the property or an individual looking for a home to live in.
Let’s focus on the seller first. If he is a private seller, he may be aware of some issues within the property that would impact the value and selling price. Whether he is willing to share this information is another matter (some will, some won’t). Where a developer is involved, they may simply be unaware of certain issues within a property, after all, they are likely to be handing over multiple units and have had many sub-contractors working to finish the build on a strict time schedule. This article is not intended to be any sort of scare monger, it is merely intended to highlight that defects and potential problems do exist in properties and the person selling, whether an individual or corporation, may or may not be aware of the issues. For that reason, a buyer should always protect their potential investment by having a thorough and comprehensive inspection. After all, property purchases are often the largest and most significant expenditure an individual is likely to make, so why not alleviate the risks?
But how do you find the right property snagging service for you? Let’s look at five questions and considerations you can use to fine tune your search:
What qualifications or certifications do they have?
There are any number of differing levels of expertise available, but inspection of properties is a professional trade and those carrying out the role should be able to show that they are qualified to do so.
What references can they provide?
If a company cannot provide any references, alarm bells should be ringing. You want to be sure that the service you are buying is going to be delivered so, do a little digging. Check their website and social feeds and see what other customers are saying.
What experience do they have in residential construction?
Knowing what to look for is more than half the battle in providing a fully comprehensive home inspection report. Check that your provider has a track record looking at the type of property you are looking to purchase. After all, you wouldn’t ask an electrician to look at your plumbing.
Will they provide you with a full written report?
Having a comprehensive written report is your peace of mind for now and in the future. Simply stating that the property is in good condition won’t give you the comfort that a thorough inspection has been carried out. Conversely, saying that there is a problem with the air conditioning capacity will not give you the information you need to get the situation resolved or assist in your negotiations.
How comfortable are you with your potential provider?
This is something of a ‘catch all’ question but one to bear in mind. Having looked at the references and asked the questions above, do you trust that your provider is going to bat for you? This is your inspection to protect your investment, make sure you engage a team you can trust.
If you are considering making a purchase, about to receive a hand-over of a property or are approaching the end of your first year defect warranty on your property, contact Majlis today and explore how they can help you protect your investment and avoid unnecessary cost and expense in the future.
