What to Look for When Buying a New House

In staying with our name, just imagine, for a moment, that you are in the market for a new car. What are some of the things that you look for? If you're like most people, you'll consider non-negotiables such as safety features and good after-sales support, while also thinking of nice-to-have items like power steering and air conditioning that may persuade you to buy one make or model over another. Is fuel economy important to you? Spaciousness?

Since a house is a much bigger - and more long-term - investment, it stands to reason that you would want to give due consideration to the various factors that will ultimately influence your decision to purchase a specific property.  The macro-environment - which includes the current condition of the property market and a number of other monolithic factors that exist in the economy as a whole - will undoubtedly play a significant role, but let's assume that you have already taken all this into account and you are ready and motivated to buy.

"What are you looking for in a house?" might not be the straightforward question it appears to be at first glance, mainly because most of us will have a personal checklist that is subject to change since circumstances, lifestyle, tastes and preferences, as well as security and familial needs are all dynamic factors that come into play when you're navigating the property market.

On an aesthetic and aspirational level, you probably have a clear picture of what your dream house looks like in your mind; however, very few of us will buy a car based on looks alone, and a large investment like a property requires even more due diligence. That being said, the appearance of your home is still likely to play a vital role in your decision, so let's talk about it a bit more

Aesthetics

Edgar Allan Poe once wrote, "beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears". In somewhat less poetic terms, a significant part of your decision will boil down to your appreciation of the property's appearance. Of course, you'll have your own idea of what constitutes beauty, but stunning interior finishes, a verdant garden and a swimming pool are some of the features that lend themselves to a house's aesthetic and cosmetic appeal.

Practical considerations

Taking into account whether you live on your own, have a family or are planning to start one in the near future, will help you determine the prime spot to buy, and not merely in regards to the size of the dwelling (though, naturally, that's an important factor).

The word "location", spoken thrice like some kind of magical mantra, is constantly being emphasised in the property market - but location in relation to what? If you have kids, you should look at buying in a neighbourhood with schools or daycare centres within close proximity of your home. Access to main routes is also important, especially if you need to travel to and from your place of work every day. While many suburbs in Pretoria are remarkably serene and almost deliver a sense of bucolic country living, you should ensure that you still have easy access to amenities such as shopping centres and the other comforts and conveniences of city life.

Security and safety

We've touched on this in a previous blog post, but security is one of the most fundamental and inalienable of human needs, and it's important that you and your family feel safe in your new environment. Crime trends and statistics for specific cities, suburbs and neighbourhoods can easily be found online.

If you plan on moving into a complex, residential estate or gated community, 24 hour security and some form of access control system provide greater peace of mind.

Budget and finances

Simply put: what can you afford? Are you looking for a smaller starter home or something with a bit more space? What loan amount do you qualify for and what are you able to put down as a deposit? You can ask your friendly and knowledgeable agent to put you in touch with their preferred financial consultant, who will perform a pre-qualification check. Of course, before we even get to this step, you should assess your personal financial situation so you know at what price range you should be looking.

You can be rest assured, however, that we'll help and guide you through the entire process, and find you a home that checks all of the above boxes.

Contact us today!