Buying a house: what to look for outside the house

It’s Open for Inspection day, you enter the inside of the house, the fresh coffee pot has been made or the candles are burning, the selling agent has cookies on the bench for you. How lovely!

Then there’s the perfectly positioned magazines and books on the coffee table, the matching artwork palette with the sofa colour.

But what’s going on outside of the house? What did you notice as you approached the front door? Here are some points to consider outside the house:

Nearby water

That creek may look picturesque now, however with the unpredictable weather it means that creek just may end up cascading through your back door! Check for stormwater drains in the street, how close are they to your new home. You may be in the lowest part of the street if the drain is close to your property. Check the flood maps to see the potential or likelihood risk of flooding.

Area drive

Drive around the area to see if there are any surprises like factories. Also note, is there much traffic? You have come on a Saturday for the open home, there isn’t much traffic. Come back mid-week or during busy peak hour traffic periods to monitor the traffic flow and impact. Spend a couple of hours in the car checking out the locality. Is it your kind of neighbourhood? If you like trees, are there lots of trees? If you have children, are there other children?

Gutters and downpipes

Are the gutters rusted or leaking, sawed off, attached to proper drainage? Check that all roof downpipes are discharging into the appropriate area and not just onto the ground. Look for past signs of excess water flow or flooding around the downpipe bases.

It is also advisable to talk to neighbours and ask them a few questions.

If you’re ever in doubt, ask a professional to assess the property and write a detailed report on its state of repair.

Just the tip of the iceberg…

These are just some of the items to look for outside when buying a home on the Sunshine Coast. If you are looking for more help with your next purchase, or would like more information - click here to connect to Keeta, the buyer’s advocate who not only knows the area like the back of her hand, will welcome you with open arms- prioritising you and your family’s every need when moving to the Sunshine Coast.