Buying a home near or on the beach in Sydney’s northern beaches may be a dream for many, but it is also a purchase that should be made with care. Coastal homes are subject to many more environmental factors than the average home, which can make a purchase much more expensive than originally planned. Take into account the upkeep or replacement costs on shutters and other fittings that can suffer corrosion from the salt air, for example. There are also other problems that beachside homes can face that are not always apparent at first glance.
What to look out for
Questions to ask yourself when you’re considering a coastal property (or any other property for that matter) are:
• Is the property close to water, and has it been flooded? Is it prone to flooding?
• Does it have any corrosion damage to structures?
• Is there risk or evidence of sand erosion?
• Are the floors level and secure?
• Is there any evidence of mould or mildew indicating dampness?
• Is there any damage to paintwork, such as bubbles or blisters?
• Are there any cracks in walls or tiles?
• Is there any paint peeling due to excessive moisture?
• Is there any brickwork that shows signs of cracking?
• Is the roof damaged, cracked, sagging, or does it have any holes or obvious damage as a result of water entry?
Benefits of a building inspection
As always, it is important that before you proceed with a purchase, you seek a professional building inspection. Sydney northern beaches may be home to impressive properties, but they are not necessarily free from defects and there could be problems that you simply cannot see.
Think of a building inspection as a small investment in your future. Picking up a defect at this stage of the property purchase will save you a significant amount of money in the short-term, and over the long-term.
In the short-term, a building inspection organised by Compare Inspections could give you increased negotiation power during the purchase process, and allow you to negotiate on aspects of price and contract conditions if there are defects that need to be addressed. The inspection report could also be used to negotiate a maintenance plan as part of the sale if there are specific issues that require ongoing attention.
In the long-term, the small outlay for a building inspection may pick up safety risks, and reduce the chances of you having to spend endless amounts of money on repairing defects that have been left untreated.
Take the emotion out of the purchasing process
It’s so easy to be swept away by the allure and serenity of a beachside home. Imagining yourself enjoying days at the beach and taking in the sea air and balmy coastal breezes makes it easy to forget about the hidden dangers that could be lurking in a property you’re about to buy.
Buying a property in Sydney’s northern beaches should be a good investment, but it can easily be a failed one if defects are missed. While doing some of your own research is smart, and talking to the neighbours about their experiences of owning a beach property is a good idea, contacting Compare Inspections to arrange a building inspection is probably the smartest thing you can do to ensure a happy life by the sea in Sydney.
By Darel McBride
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