New Homeowners Guide – Before You Buy
Listen to this article in Afrikaans:
Congratulations! You are finally in the very privileged position to start the journey of being a first time home buyer!
There are very few things in your life that will feel as exciting and as daunting as the process of purchasing your first home.
From the moment you decide to announce this big step, every Tom, Dick and Uncle Harold will have their two cents to contribute. Whether they want to impart wisdom around neighbourhoods that used to be trendy in their day (but now holds the title of being a crime hotspot) or ways to negotiate the asking price down to what they paid in 1990, you’ll be inundated with advice.
Never fear, HOMEMAKERS is here to save you. Or, at least, just help you filter out what advice can be used and what should rather be ignored.
Over the next 10 months, we’ll be releasing one chapter a month of our New Homeowner’s Guide to help you make the best choices on this journey.
You’re Not Alone
You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed and isolated in this process, but the head of financial services for Lightstone, Mike Lehabe begs to differ. Lightstone’s figures show that 2022 has more South Africans buying homes for the first time than over the last 10 years.
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What YOU can do
There are a few things to establish before even making an offer on your future home.
The things you can do without any professional input are as follows:
Google Your Neighbourhood
First off, google the area your potential property is located in. No matter if you’ve grown up nearby or if you are moving from across the country, the internet will be your friend here.
Find out from news articles, Facebook community groups and general social media posts about the area whether it all looks as pretty from the inside as it does from the outside.
You might be surprised to learn that a certain area has been having recurring trouble with service delivery, though it’s not something really reported on by the media.
School checks
Whether you have children or not, the schools in the area will reveal a lot about the community.
If the schools in the neighbourhood are constantly pegged for drug-related incidents, there is a higher chance that the area as a whole might have a problem with substance abuse. On the other hand, the schools in your area might be big on community service and eco-activities such as recycling. An easy way for someone new to the area to feel more at home is to participate in these kinds of community initiatives.
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Crime checks
It is possible to view reported crimes by making use of websites such as Crime Stats SA or to contact the nearest police station for a report. Nowhere in South Africa is crime-free, but being forewarned regarding recurring crimes is being forearmed.
Take a drive
Depending on the area from which you are moving, you might never even consider how different cell phone signals, WIFI coverage or traffic can influence your living experience.
Take a drive to your intended property and literally go check what your mobile signal looks like.
When you’re there, check which delivery services are available. You’ll notice that services like MrD or Woolies Dash don’t deliver to certain areas, and this often corresponds with the perceived safety of their delivery drivers.
Check your maps app every morning for a week and every afternoon for a week to see what the real-time would be for you to get to work or the shops. Just because your intended property is 10km away from your workplace, doesn’t mean that you could get there in under half an hour during peak traffic.
Reference your chosen ISP’s website to see which internet options are available in the area. It sucks having to fall from Fibre to ADSL without warning.
Furthermore, just being in the area at different times of the day or during the week will also give you a clearer indication of what to expect.
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Neighbour Notices
You cannot overestimate the treasure trove that is an old, nosy neighbour. Find someone in the same street, complex or building to give you the low-down on all the little secrets of the area.
You can, at least, use this just to establish whether you’ll be dealing with difficult neighbours if you choose to move to their valley.
What the Professionals can Do
If all of the above checks turn out well, you should definitely insist on a property evaluation before even starting the purchasing process.
Some sneaky homeowners can hide a multitude of sins under some fresh new paint or a bit of putty.
With this in mind, ask a professional to check for the following:
- Structural damage
- Water seepage and damp
- Faulty electrical, plumbing and gas installations
- Rotten wood or ceiling structures
- Hazardous materials (such as asbestos or mould
Make an Offer
If you’ve followed our tips you should be in possession of all the facts about your chosen property.
In next month’s New Homeowner’s Guide, we focus on the nitty-gritty details regarding packing and moving.
We at HOMEMAKERS are so excited to be sharing this journey with you.
Read more in our latest Digital Magazines!
Johannesburg
Pretoria
Cape Town
Durban
Vaal Triangle
Bloemfontein
Read more in our latest Digital Magazines!
Johannesburg
Pretoria
Cape Town
Durban
Vaal Triangle
Bloemfontein
