How to inspect a property

With so many different factors to think about when choosing your first home, you can be forgiven for returning from an inspection thinking about all the things you meant to check but didn't.

Getting a professional building and pest inspection is a good idea when you are very serious about buying a property and you can expect to pay around $400-700 for one of these. But there are plenty of things you can do yourself which will only cost you the time it takes to pay close attention to each property you visit.

Traffic
If traffic is a big issue for you, stay for as long as you can at an inspection and listen carefully for the traffic, both road and air. If you are serious about a property, try and visit it at different times of the day which will give you a better idea of how the noise levels may change. This will also help you to check how the orientation affects things like the amount of light in a property.

Neighbours
Take a good look at the surrounding homes. Well maintained properties will assist in lifting the quality of the street as a whole. The flipside is that run down, trashy properties will bring down (lower) the quality of the street, and may also indicate problematic neighbours.

Noise
Close to the property, you can check for dogs in nearby gardens. Also look for children's toys and games if waking up to the sounds of children playing isn't quite your cup of tea.

Further a-field, drive around the block and observe any community centres, churches and playing fields, medical facilities, shops and local amenities.

Property condition
There are some pretty standard things to look out for when inspecting the physical aspects of the property. These include general dampness, mould patches, cracks in the surfaces, splits in timber, quality of paintwork, gaps between walls and uneven surfaces. Remember to look high and low observing floors, walls and ceilings. Leave no surface unseen.

You can take your inspection to the next level by paying for a building inspection if and when you are serious that a property is the one for you.

Boundaries
Check the quality of any wooden fences or walls between the property and the neighbouring properties. Look for rot at the base of the wooden palings, or cracks in brick work.

Another important thing to check is for trees or plants on neighbouring properties that reach over the boundary. Is there cause for concern about falling tree branches, or leaves and berries dropping on your carport, roof or pathways?

Plumbing and drains
Run some taps indoors and out, looking for water pressure issues, leaks and for general drainage.  Don't forget the shower!  Flush the toilet as well using both full and half flush (if available) checking for pressure and time it takes to fully flush.

Position
Make sure the property is close enough to the amenities and facilities important to you. These could include things like access to public transport, local shops or larger shopping centres, parks and schools (if you have or are planning kids) or cafes and restaurants.

After conducting the inspection, write your own inspection report, detailing as many observations as possible. Sometimes, you may not even know the relevance of the item, but by documenting it you are reminding yourself to investigate further with either the agent or with an expert in the subject area.