How to visit a flat
Sometimes we are blinded by enthusiasm, important details escape our attention and our home becomes a private hell. If you are looking for a home keep all your senses on full alert.
There you have it.
After having covered the city visiting estate agents and developers, you have finally obtained a selection of the homes that attract you most.
Now comes the important bit: the visit. In just a few minutes you will have to observe what may be your future home, and any carelessness may mean that the home of your dreams becomes a real nightmare.
To make sure that this does not happen to you and to make you more assured, here are a few tips:
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Study the area where the the block of flats is located: check for noise from building works, traffic build-up, night-life, etc. and check for things such as local convenience stores, etc.
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The facade will give you a lot of information about the type of community you will be living in.
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Go through the entrance way as if it were your house, with confidence, and try to do everything yourself : ring at the door, turn on the light...
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Measure the stairs and the lift, thinking about the move or the purchase.
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Once inside, check whether the list of features you have been given matches what you see.
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Observe if you like the layout and, if not, if it is easy to change it.
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Pay careful attention to all the details, however small they are: finishes, placing of the doors, dividing walls, etc.
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Knock the wall that bothers you with your knuckles to see if it is a supporting wall or not.
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Look carefully at the ceilings, the ventilation in the bathrooms, the radiators, the light, the tiling, the colour of the bathroom fittings and the floors, the electrical and gas installations.
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Pay attention to thesmell - in the patio - and to the damp patches. For this, do not forget to open the fitted wardrobes and take a good look at the window frames.
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Listen for noise that may be from inside - like the sounds of the gas heater, air conditioning, doors and taps - or that may be coming from the neighbours.
THE SEARCHER’S KIT
To benefit from the visit and in order not to let anything escape our notice, anyone searching for a home should carry a set of essential items.
In the first place, a notebook to note details and perceptions – it is easy to forget things. Another essential item is a measuring tape, since sometimes there are differences between the estate agent's measurements and what the bedrooms really measure.
In case of doubt, the best thing is to check. Finally, it's useful to carry a torch, since many homes have interior bedrooms without a window where there may be hidden damp patches or damage.