Introduction – Home Inspection Before Buying a Resale Flat
Buying a property that has been previously owned by someone is called a Resale property or Resale Flat. It can be apartments, flats, houses, villas, bungalows, etc.
In the pool of the expensive real estate sector, Resale property stands as a cost-effective housing solution in convenient surroundings.
With a ready-to-move-in advantage, a resale property might come with several hidden issues, such as wiring, plumbing, or documentation issues.
These issues might not be visible in a casual check but might cost you repairs worth lakhs of rupees.
To avoid these expenses, consider a home inspection before buying a resale flat or a new home, which will assess the condition of the flat and ensure that you’re investing for the right.
Let’s discuss some of the major issues that you might face while buying a resale flat, which can be resolved through a home inspection
Structural Damage
A resale property is considered good in its first 5 years. A maximum of 10-year-old property can be considered as an investment only if it’s well maintained.
Due to poor maintenance, a resale property might possess structural damage, which will lead to extra repair costs and safety concerns.
Large & deep wall cracks might indicate poor construction quality.
Weak walls can also be caused due to water leakage, which can lead to mould growth, paint damage as well as ceiling leakages.
These issues can cause excessive repair costs, which can be avoided by home inspection before buying a resale flat.
Plumbing Defects
Several old properties still use iron pipes, which leads to rusting & leakage issues.
A faulty piping system may lead to low water flow, frequent bursting of pipes, clogged drainage and many such issues.
An old, rusty, or leaking pipe may cost you additional expenses to repair or replace.
Low water pressure indicates blockage in the piping system, and slow water flow in sinks or bathrooms is a sign of poor drainage & clogging issues.
Another big issue is hidden leakage in pipes, damped walls, mould growth & bad smell.
To avoid such plumbing-related issues, a home inspection before buying a resale flat is the perfect solution.
Electrical & Wiring Issues
Old resale properties majorly possess old wiring systems which’s unable to handle heavy electrical loads.
This leads to fire threats and persistent power failures, causing safety hazards & excessive repair costs.
Outdated electrical reason is the major reason behind short circuits, also, old circuit boards will overload and won’t be able to endure heavy appliances like air conditioners, geysers, etc.
If the property has faulty earthing, it may lead to electric shocks, and if there are any exposed wires, then it’s a major safety issue for children.
These electrical issues can be resolved through professional inspections, making a home inspection before buying a resale flat essential.
Pests & Termite Infestation
Pests and termites are common in older flats in India, leading to property damage and severe health issues.
Termites can damage wooden objects on your property. Cockroaches, rodents, or rats can cause health issues and major inconveniences.
Pest control is a costly and hectic process that a home inspection can avoid before buying a resale flat and requesting the seller to conduct it priorly.
Document Verification
It’s important to check and verify all the documents before buying a resale property.
The resale flat you are buying might have issues related to ownership, pending maintenance dues, or unauthorized modifications, leading to legal troubles in the future.
Confirm the ownership of the resale flat and ensure no legal disputes through the title deed.
OC (Occupancy Certificate) confirms whether the property is following all municipal regulations.
EC (Encumbrance Certificate) is used to verify the pending loans & liabilities on the flat and the Society NOC can be accessed to confirm the pending maintenance or society dues.
The best way to verify all these documents properly and prevent legal issues in future is home inspection before buying a resale flat.
Fixtures & Fittings
To sell a flat, sellers usually paint the flat before showing it to you, which may hide some of the basic issues in the flat.
The doors & window locks are sometimes jammed or not working at all.
The loose or broken tiles & flooring of the flat might be fixed temporarily.
The bathroom fittings can be rusty, leaking or have broken faucets too, with weak fittings or water damage in the kitchen cabinets & sinks.
A thorough quality check of all the fixtures & fittings will allow you to have an upper hand while negotiating with the seller.
Importance Of Home Inspection Before Buying A Resale Flat
A home inspection before buying a resale flat is a key investment before buying a new home as it allows you to ensure the safety & quality of your home and family.
Home inspection allows you to negotiate well with the seller before buying the flat.
You can ask the seller to fix all the issues before buying the flat, negotiate for a better price for future repairs and the best thing is that you can decide properly whether you wanna proceed with the property or not.
FAQs
| What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a detailed check of a resale flat or flat, which ensures the quality of your house including structure, wiring, plumbing, documentation and many such issues so that you can make an informed decision. |
| Why home inspection before buying a real estate flat important?
A resale flat might have hidden issues and repairs such as faulty wiring, weak walls, pests & termites, pending dues, etc. which can lead to future issues. A home inspection before buying a resale flat will help you figure out such problems. |
| Can I do a home inspection on my own?
You can do it to an extent, but a professional will ensure that you are aware of every single hidden issue & defect. |
| What is the cost of a home inspection?
The cost varies depending on the flat size, carpet area and location, but a stand inspection mostly costs around ₹3,000 to ₹12,000. |
| What common issues can be spotted in a resale flat?
Issues like structural damage, leakage, outdated & faulty wiring, legal issues, etc. are mostly found in a resale flat. |
| When should I get a home inspection done?
A home inspection should be usually done before making the final payment or signing the agreement, to avoid additional costs in future. |
| Does a home inspection help in negotiating the prize?
Yes, if major issues are discovered after a home inspection you can negotiate the terms with the seller or ask him to fix everything before buying the flat. |
| Can a home inspection cover legal document verification?
Along with physical checks, some professionals also verify documents like NOC, EC, OC, etc. |
| What should be done if the home inspection showcases major repairs?
If the home inspection before buying a resale flat highlights major repairs then you can negotiate the price with the seller, ask him to repair the issues, or even reconsider your thought of proceeding with the purchase. |
| Do we require a home inspection for a new flat?
It’s unlikely, but still, it’s recommended to have a home inspection for construction defects or fitting qualities before moving into a new flat as well. |
