Buying a home is a big and difficult decision. If you’re currently on the lookout for a new home, you’ll be well aware of all the things you should take into consideration.
Key factors include the location, whether or not the house suits your wants and needs, and if you think it’s worth the amount it’s listed for.
However, it’s still important to listen to a surveyor as they’ll be able to help you point things out that you might have otherwise not thought about.
To help prospective home buyers, a man named Dan, known online as ‘Dan the Surveyor Man’, has taken to social media to share three things he urges all people to look up before making an offer on a property.
“Here are three things you need to look up before you make an offer on a house,” Dan said in his TikTok video. He then went on to share his list of the things you should look up, and how to best do it.
1. Flooding risk
“Number one is flooding,” he said, before explaining that the government offers a free tool on their website where you can see the risk of flooding in different postcodes.
As the UK is an island, we’re surrounded by water on all coastlines. However, this isn’t the only flood risk that’s possible, as the governement also assesses the risk of flooding from surface water, rivers and the sea, groundwater, and reserviors.
Dan went on to expalain exacrly how you can see whether or not the property you’re interested in is at risk of flooding.
“Go to the government website, type in the post code and it will tell you the risk of flooding,” he explained. “If the risk is higher, this not only affects the actual flood risk but it can also affect your insurance premiums.”
2. Radon levels
“Number two is check for radon,” he urged all prospective buyers.
He went on to explain: “Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can seep out of the ground. And if it is allowed to build up in your home, it can lead to lung cancer.”
The governement’s Health Security Agency has an interactive map on their website to show the areas that’s most affected by radon.
They also explained that while all buildings contains radon, the levels are usually low enough to not be harmful. The chances of a higher level depend on the type of ground.
3. Ground conditions
For the final thing on Dan’s list, he said: “And number three is check for ground conditions”.
Ground conditions generally refer to the characteristics of the ground at a site, including geology, hydrology, soil types, and any contamination. This also encompasses man-made obstructions like landfill or old sewers.
“Depending on the ground conditions, the property can determine the risk of subsidence,” he explained.
Factors like soil type, potential for subsidence, and drainage can impact the stability and cost of the property.
“Now there’s only some examples. There are lots of other websites that are helpful, such as waste and landfill sites, pollution, crime, mobile phone coverage, and the list goes on,” Dan said.
Buying a property is a huge life decision – so home buyers must do their research or hire a home surveyor in order to prevent risks later down the line.