Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions many people make in their lives. Whether you are buying your first home or moving to a new one, there is quite a lot involved. From determining your budget and viewing properties to checking the structural condition and making an offer. In a competitive housing market, the pressure to decide quickly can be high. However, it is important not to look solely at a home's appearance. After all, costly defects can be hidden behind a beautifully finished wall or a modern kitchen. What should you look out for when buying a house? The building specialists at Homekeur share 10 important tips to help you buy a home better prepared and reduce the risk of unexpected costs. 1. Determine your budget before viewing a house. Before viewing properties, it is wise to know your maximum budget. This involves not only the amount you can borrow, but also the additional costs.
Consider, for example:
A home that fits exactly within your maximum mortgage amount is not necessarily the wisest financial choice. Especially with older homes, maintenance costs can add up significantly.
Homekeur tip: When determining your budget, also set aside an amount for unexpected repairs. An outdated roof, poor window frames, or defects in the floor structure can quickly cost thousands of euros.
One of the most important tips when buying a house is to gain insight into the structural condition beforehand.
A home may appear to be excellently maintained, while there is still overdue maintenance or technical defects.
During a structural inspection by Homekeur, the accessible and visible parts of a home are assessed. The inspection includes, among other things, an examination of:
The findings are recorded in a structural report. This provides insight into the observed defects, maintenance requirements, and indicative repair costs.
This can yield valuable information when determining your offer or making agreements with the seller.
Please note: A structural inspection is a visual, non-destructive inspection and offers no guarantee that a home is completely free of hidden defects.
You can read more about determining the energy performance of a home via the energy label services of Homekeur.
Homekeur tip: Ask the seller for documentation of insulation work carried out. This will give you better insight into the measures that have actually been implemented.
Foundation problems are among the most serious defects that can occur in homes.
Especially in older homes, there may be an increased foundation risk. This may be related to wooden pile foundations, soil subsidence, or changes in the groundwater level, for example.
Possible indications of foundation problems are:
These phenomena do not automatically mean that the foundation is defective. Cracks and tilting can also have other causes.
It is therefore important to have the situation assessed by an expert.
In the event of an increased risk, additional foundation research may be necessary. Homekeur offers a FASE-0 foundation risk assessment for this purpose. This involves examining, among other things, visible indications, tilting, and available information regarding foundation risks.
A PHASE 0 investigation is an initial risk analysis and not a destructive examination of the actual condition of the foundation structure.
Would you like to know more about the possible consequences? Then also read the article about the influence of the foundation on home value.
Homekeur Tip: For older homes, inquire about the foundation history and any previous surveys. This prevents important information from only coming to light after the purchase.
When buying a house, you probably look primarily at the home itself. However, the surroundings can also have a significant impact on your living comfort and future marketability. Therefore, investigate not only the current situation but also potential developments in the area. Check, for example:
Whether there are building plans for adjacent plots.
What possibilities the zoning plan offers.
Whether there is traffic or noise nuisance.
How parking is arranged.
What amenities are located in the area.
Whether there are known risks of flooding.
An unobstructed view, for example, can be attractive, but if construction is permitted on an adjacent plot, the situation may change in the future.
Homekeur tip: Consult official government information about the area and visit the neighborhood at different times of the day.
7. Familiarize yourself with hidden defects and your duty of investigation
When buying an existing home, you will encounter the buyer's duty of investigation and the seller's duty of disclosure.
The seller must provide relevant information regarding defects known to him that may be of importance to the buyer.
At the same time, as a buyer, you are expected to conduct sufficient research into the condition of the home yourself.
This means, for example, that visible damp patches, noticeable cracks, or other indications of problems may be grounds to ask additional questions or have an investigation carried out.
A common misconception is that the seller is automatically liable for any defect discovered after the transfer of ownership. That is not the case.
Whether a seller can be held liable depends, among other things, on the nature of the defect, the information provided, the purchase agreement, and the circumstances of the purchase.
A building inspection can be part of the investigation you conduct as a buyer.
Homekeur Tip: Record important questions and answers in writing. If in doubt, have additional research carried out before you are definitively bound to the purchase.
Have you found your dream home? Then it is time to make an offer.
In a competitive housing market, it can be tempting to make an offer without reservations. However, by doing so, you may be taking significant financial risks.
Two important conditions are the financing clause and the structural inspection clause.
With a financing clause, you can cancel the purchase under the agreed conditions if you do not obtain the necessary mortgage.
With a structural inspection clause, the parties can, for example, agree that the purchase can be cancelled if the immediately necessary repair costs exceed a certain amount.
The exact wording of these conditions is important. A structural inspection does not automatically grant the right to cancel the purchase.
Homekeur Tip: Preferably have a structural inspection carried out before you are unconditionally committed to the purchase. This way, you can still take the results into account in your decision.
Buying a home also means that you become responsible for its maintenance.
For existing homes, maintenance costs can vary widely. Age, construction method, materials used, and maintenance history play an important role in this.
The following items, in particular, can entail significant costs:
As a result, a home with a relatively low purchase price can ultimately turn out to be more expensive than a better-maintained home with a higher asking price.
Therefore, do not look only at the purchase price, but also at the total costs you can expect in the coming years.
A structural survey helps to provide insight into the maintenance needs. Would you like to know what such a survey costs? Then view the costs of a structural inspection at Homekeur.
Homekeur Tip: Use the maintenance and cost indications from a structural report to draw up a realistic maintenance budget. Keep in mind that indicative amounts may differ from actual quotes.
Buying a home is often an emotional decision. You see possibilities, think about the layout, and imagine what it would be like to live there.
That is precisely why an independent assessment of the structural condition is valuable.
A structural inspector examines the home from a technical perspective and assesses visible defects, maintenance risks, and potential repair costs.
With a structural report, you gain more insight into the condition of the home and can better assess what investments you might need to make.
Furthermore, a structural inspection can help you ask targeted questions of the seller and make better-informed choices.
Homekeur conducts structural inspections for homebuyers throughout the Netherlands. The inspection is carried out by an experienced building inspector and the findings are recorded in a clear report.
Homekeur Tip: Schedule your building inspection early in the purchasing process, so that you have sufficient opportunity to assess the findings and have additional research carried out where necessary.
Buying a house is an important step. In addition, it is wise not only to look at the location, layout, and appearance of a home, but also at its technical condition and the financial consequences of any overdue maintenance.
By determining your budget in advance, viewing properties critically, investigating the surroundings, and paying attention to potential structural defects, you reduce the chance of unpleasant surprises.
A well-prepared home buyer looks not only at what a home costs today, but also at what the home might cost tomorrow.
