New flat Vs Resale flat

Buying home for most of the people is not just an investment but is like knitting a dream altogether. So it is very important that you should be keenly aware of the all the important aspects of the property that you are going to invest you’re hard earned money into.
Basically there are two types of house property i.e. individual houses and flats. There is a further segmentation in these properties which is new house properties and resale house properties. Generally the purchase price of resale house properties both individual houses and flats are lower than the new ones. But should we consider buying the resale flats? With increased technology and modern construction equipments the process of construction has evolved but the quality is compromised in the most of the cases. It is not uncommon now to find flat owners complaining about their builders in most of the cases.

Following are some of the crucial factors that must be kept in mind and checked before buying resale flats:-

Age of the property-

You should always look out for the flats which are 1 to 5 years or maximum to 10 years old. A flat older than this would require huge renovation and repair works. Moreover, the durability of such flats would not be good as those flats have already endured rough wear and tear for these many years. The higher the age of the flats the more issues lies with the quality of the flats. Below are some quality issues that should be encountered or checked before making the buying decision:

• Structural design – Understanding the structural design and layouts are a difficult task for a layman but nevertheless you can have a look on the blueprints of the design to get some idea. Is the building structure strong enough to withstand a certain magnitude of earthquake or not? If you are facing problems to check this yourself you can always opt for a third party professional to ensure that everything is fine.
• Wall thickness – The outer width of the walls should be more than the inner walls and it is important to check whether there is a common outer wall for two flats. This would avoid the future conflicts if you want to make changes in the structure or even when you need to do minor drills in the walls.
• Water seepage– The most common problem in case of the resale house is the water seepage, it could be anywhere in the walls on the ceiling. The problem is even worse when there happens to be a common wall for two flats which is completely damaged with seepage.
• Cracks– There may be hidden cracks in the walls and ceilings which need to be checked thoroughly so that you can have an idea of the exact cost to be incurred on renovation. Finding these flaws would be very helpful while negotiating the price of the house property.
• Plumbing – This is another issue that leads to the major issue i.e. seepage and dampness on the walls and ceiling. As modern houses are created with concealed plumbing fittings it is very difficult to find out the flaws in it and the problem can be aggrieved if timely measures are not taken.
• Electricity– Like the plumbing fittings most of the new houses have concealed electrical wiring system which makes it difficult to find the problematic areas. There may the case of overloading circuits, low insulation which can even risk your life of the people around. So it is utmost necessary to have electrical wiring checked in both the cases whether it is a resale house or a new house.
• Flooring –In the resale house the most wear and tear happens to the flooring. There may be cracks or the floor might have become completely slippery which is dangerous. The flooring in the toilet should be particularly checked very wisely as most slipping accidents takes place in the toilet area itself.

• Reputation of the builder-To have more surety you can even look at the previous projects of the same builder which are much older and just cross check if they are in good condition. It is not always possible to find this out but if you are a good communicator you have an option to indulge in chit chat with some of those flat owners.
  

  Reason behind the sale-

  It is always good to know, what is the exact reason behind the sale of the house property? Although, enquiring it directly from seller is never a good idea as he might not disclose you the real reason. Giving some surprise visits to the flat and asking the immediate neighbors could help somewhat.

  Sound paper work-

  The most important aspect of dealing in the properties is its documentation. When it comes to a resale flat or house, the need to check the documents and papers increases two fold times. You should thoroughly check if there is any existing lien on the flat or any outstanding charges and fees in the name of the seller before making the buying decision.
  After going through all these checks yet there are things that won’t visible with your naked eyes and would require the help on an expert. A third party certification is always beneficial to avoid any unpleasant surprises later. In India the concept of having the home checked prior to purchase or sale is a new thing but definitely the trend is getting a boost through many upcoming service providers in home inspection , so that you are fully ensured and can make wise decision.
  Whether you do the inspection yourself, hire a third party certification auditor or go for a professional inspection make sure you are aware of all the essential facts associated with it after all its your hard earned money.

Please feel free to reach home check.in to get further details about home inspection and if you would like to have a  civil engineer visit at your flat