Phyllis Stylianou - Buying or Selling Your Home

Ignore the wish list

Thats right. Even if its got every conceivable fitting and fixture youve ever wanted, the right address, perfect neighbours and the Olympic-sized swimming pool that tops your list, walk away if there are problems that are too expensive or difficult to fix. Those top of the range European kitchen appliances will be cold comfort if the roof leaks like a sieve and the floor has so much dry rot it threatens to give way under the weight of your toddler! Its far better to compromise a little on aesthetics than wake up one windy night with the roof coming down around your ears.

Drongos 100 Simple Tips : Buying or Selling Your Home

by Phyllis Stylianou

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JoJo Publishing

National Library of Australia
Cataloguing in publication data

Drongos 100 Simple Tips : Buying or Selling Your Home /

Phyllis Stylianou.

ISBN 978-0-9872813-6-4 (DG)

Home ownership--Australia.

House buying--Australia.

House selling--Australia.

643.120994

Text by Phyllis Stylianou

Designed by Rob Ryan @ Z Design Media

Be prepared

Take a leaf out of the scouts handbook and do your homework before you even start looking for a home, a real estate agent or a loan. Making the right choices starts with knowing what all the options are and deciding exactly what you want. Then make sure you get it. Dont let anyone rush you, ask lots of questions and read everything thoroughly before you sign. Remember those rare occasions when you actually did your homework after school? It usually paid off, didnt it?

Look to the future

Its ridiculous to buy a house thats way too big for your needs. But make sure its not way too small either. You may be a couple now, but if youre planning to start a family in the next few years, consider if therell be enough room for everyone. Were not just talking bedrooms either (although you should decide if youd want the kids to have a room each or if they can share). Remember that little ones need room to run around and a safe environment. A split level house with stairs everywhere might appeal to you now, but throw a toddler or two into the mix and youre talking nervous breakdown a few years down the track!

Storage

The kitchen is a dream, the bathroom is spacious and the master bedroom is a romantic fantasy but if the storage is so limited you have to resort to putting your spare sheets and towels in the garage, then theres a problem. Cupboards arent generally the trendiest feature of a home, but theyre one of the boring essentials. Before you start shopping around, consider what else you have that needs a home of its own. Leaving your skis and other sports equipment on display might be good pose value in front of guests until their little darlings smash them. Make a list of how much cupboard space you need, then add a bit extra for new acquisitions. Dont forget a spot for the Chrissy tree!

Know the area

This ones especially important if youre moving interstate, from city to country (or vice versa), or just going to an unfamiliar area. Theres a really strange tendency for some very bad suburbs to be right next to some very good ones.

You dont want to find yourself living in a war zone simply because you thought it looked like a nice suburb or the adjoining area was so expensive that this property looked like a steal. Do your homework first. Ask colleagues (if you work in the area), teachers at your kids potential new school and local business owners. Also check out several issues of the local newspaper the articles, advertisements and opinion pieces should give you a fairly accurate picture of the suburb.

The cost of convenience

Close to schools and shops. I never truly appreciated how important that hackneyed little phrase, stock standard in so many real estate ads, was until I went to stay with my mother-in-law while we renovated. Used to living four doors from a supermarket and chemist (not to mention with a car at my disposal any time I needed it) I took the convenience of quick easy access to food and other goodies for granted.

Then we moved in with mum, sold my car, and I suddenly found myself stranded about 3 km from the nearest shops, with two babies and a toddler. Never underestimate the value of proximity to services that you need and be prepared to pay a little extra for it.

Buying a period home

Charming as they are, these lovely homes require an investment beyond money. If your dream is to buy a period home, try talking to someone who already owns one. These architectural wonders are beautiful and sturdy, but can also be immensely fragile in some ways. The brickwork may stand the test of centuries, but the render on the internal walls has a tendency to crumble and is a devilish hard thing to repair. Proper old-fashioned fireplaces may conjure up cosy images, but the reality is that they often smoke up the house, create mess and arent that warm at all. Storage in these places tends to be non-existent and the rooms can be pokey. But if you can see past all this and are prepared to put up with a dearth of modern conveniences and open plan living, nothing beats the joy of owning one of these grand old ladies.

Buying off the plan

This involves buying a property (usually a unit or townhouse) that is going to be built or is under construction but not yet completed. While the advantage of buying this way is that you usually get the property cheaper, the risk is that youre literally buying a dream and dreams can become nightmares. Plans and artists impressions can look very pretty and impressive, but theres no substitute for walking through the real thing. (The one youre going to buy, not a demo model.) Theres also the risk that construction may not be completed on time or may not be completed at all if the developer goes bust. Someone has to keep all those current affairs programs on air!

Bad weather is good for buying

Dont stay home just because its pouring with rain this is the ideal time to check out your prospective new address!

Theres nothing like a good howling thunderstorm to bring out the best (or worst) in a house. Youll be able to check for leaks and rattles around doors, windows, ceilings, the roof and every nook and cranny you can find. Dont be afraid to wade around the garden either its better to know now rather than later if the pools going to overflow and flood the house every winter! Poor drainage around the house and leaky gutters will also show up during a downpour.

Everybody needs good neighbours

You can pick your friends, but you cant pick your rellies.

Neighbours, however, are somewhere in between. If they move in after you do, then turn out to be axe murderers, theres not a lot you can do, except sell for a very low price and move yourself! But when youre buying, youre in with a chance. Dont ask the vendors if the Addams Family is living next door, theyre not going to scare you off by telling you. Go knock on the door and introduce yourself. Then knock on a few other doors in the street and ask a few questions youre bound to strike a few local gossips wholl be happy to tell you all about the neighbours from hell!

Trust your gut instinct

Buying a home isnt like buying a new jumper you cant take it back for an exchange if you dont like it. When you walk into a house, if it doesnt feel like home, keep looking.