Checklist: Before Buying a House | Malaysia property news and resources

Checklist: Before Buying a House | Malaysia property news and resources

The house that you may wish to buy may seem like your dream house, but before putting in an offer, consider a few details past its design and price.

For example, a basketball hoop attached to the home may cause you to assume that the neighbourhood is great for children. However, closer inspection may show that it has not been used in a long time, and there are no signs of children in the neighbourhood.  

Make a few visits to the neighbourhood

A residential street that seems quiet and peaceful may be noisy and could be a highway-feeder road during rush hour traffic making it almost impossible to enjoy a quiet day or move around without hassle.  Having a school opposite the potential buy could appear to be a perk during the holiday seasons, but come school days the extra traffic and racket might make you think otherwise.

Neighbourhood associations

How often does the neighbourhood have get-togethers? Do they host events often? Even if you don’t want to be a part of the association or attend the events, the fact that the association meet regularly is an indication that they care about their community and are working towards building a strong community. These are the kind of people who will look out for your house and your kids.

Browse through newspaper archives

Do ensure that you gather all the information on things you cannot see. For example, it could have been reported that a high voltage electrical line might be coming through your backyard or the neighbourhood may have had a lot of water supply problems in the past. Furthermore, you could check with the local city council, such as MBPJ, to see if there are any proposed future projects in the area.

Check the view

There are many neighbourhoods that have teardowns (or homes that have been demolished). Thus, it is vital that you look at the two houses on either side of yours. Check to see if they have had some teardowns. If they do, then you might consider that they could be building some huge structure that may affect your view or light.

Look at old utility bills

A pristine, landscaped garden may add to the allure of a home, but the water bill (apart from the other bills you would get trying to maintain the garden) could push up your monthly payments beyond the affordable range. The same applies for homes with multiple rooms and sections that you have to spend to air-condition during the drier, warmer months.

Look at the surrounding areas

This may not be a big concern if you are moving from just a few neighbourhoods away, but when you are moving to a completely new neighbourhood, you may not be aware of the little quirks or issue that might affect you. For example, if your home is a few streets away from an air base or an airport, then you can expect the reverberations and loud noises of aircrafts taking off and landing throughout the day.

Remember to do your homework and look beyond the property that you are considering to purchase.