We know that many of you are searching for your perfect home and after our series on ‘How to be a successful swapper’ you’ll be all set on what you need to do to make your home and advert look the best they can. But how do you know what to look for when viewing other people’s homes? What are the most important factors and what do you really have to think about? Here we’ll be taking a look at the key things to check and look out for.
How much are you paying?
Make sure you check the full rental amount of the property before you agree to a viewing. Remember that this can be different to the amount the current tenant pays, as they may receive housing benefit as a ‘top up’. It is well worth asking the question before viewing a property, as we’d hate to see you disappointed further down the line!
What is the tenancy type?
Checking the type of tenancy you will hold with your new landlord is extremely important. A different tenancy type means that you may lose your ‘Right to Buy’ or may not have the ‘Right to Acquire’ with this new property, so it’s worth checking this ahead.
Is it in good condition?
Remember that you’re accepting the property ‘as seen’ – so give it a good look over! Are there signs of damp, flaking paint or infestations of any kind? Do repairs need to be carried out? Are there any broken items of furniture that will be staying? Is there central heating? Do all the radiators function properly? Is it properly insulated? Is there double glazing? Is there enough storage space for your belongings? All of these are important things to look out for during any viewing.
What’s around?
Location, location, location – for some this is almost as important as the home itself. Make sure you visit at different times of the day, evening and at the weekend so you can get a good feel for the area. You should also make sure you look into the local transport – is there parking? Are you close enough to public transport? And finally: amenities – where’s the nearest supermarket? What are the local schools like? All of these day-to-day things can make or break a home – so work out what is really important to you and make sure it’s there!
Who’s around?
A great neighbour is almost priceless but a bad neighbour can ruin your experience of a new home… so what are the neighbours like? Are there any disputes? Visiting a potential home several times can help you assess the situation and make a decision.
Good luck!
The HomeSwapper Customer Support team are always on hand to give advice and tips on how to get the most from HomeSwapper. They deal with Swappers every day and have a unique insight and view on the thousands of successful swaps that take place on HomeSwapper.
