Unless you are an expert in construction you will only find out when it’s too late to have any recourse to the seller.

Homeowners have been under a lot of financial pressure over the last few years and just haven’t had the resources to keep up proper maintenance of their homes. If you are looking to buy a house the property could end up costing you a lot more than the amount on the contract.

To protect yourself from buying a house that will fall apart around you, hire a few experts to give you a clear picture of the condition. It may cost you a few hundred rand extra in the short term but it could save you thousands in the long run.

The most common problem areas in older homes are the plumbing systems, electrical systems and the condition of the roof. Structural soundness should also be checked.

If there are problems you can renegotiate the price or decide not to go ahead with the purchase. Beware of a seller that promises to make the improvements themselves. They will probably get the job done for the least money possible, causing quality issues further down the road.

Here is a checklist for buying an older home:

1. Get a roofing expert to check that the roof is sound. It may look fine to an amateur but an expert will soon point out problem areas. Look for signs of leakage inside the house.

2. Perimeter walls are often not built to required specifications. People have been extending the height of their walls without putting in proper supports. A few gusts of strong wind during a storm could blow it down.

3. Make sure that the electrical systems in the house have been checked and you receive a certificate to that effect.

4. Turn the taps on in the bathrooms. There is nothing worse than getting into the shower of your new home to find that there is as much water pressure as a squirt gun. Get the geyser checked out — a new one will set you back many thousands of rands.

5. Examine the trees on the property as some could pose a risk if they are dead or planted too close to a retaining wall.

6. Ask the owner about flooding during a rainstorm. The last thing you want is a swamp at the bottom of your garden.

7. And finally, ask about the neighbours. If they have psytrance parties every weekend it may not cost you money, but it will sure cost you a peaceful night's sleep.

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