Buying a House in Perth Advice
Searching and Finding a Home For You
Buying a property is easy but buying the right one for you is a lot more difficult. If you buy the right home not only will it benefit your lifestyle and wellbeing, it will also create wealth for you in the future
Antony Svilicich can find the right home for people who are too busy and time poor. Or don't have the confidence or knowledge of what to look for when house hunting. Antony has over 25 years of experience advising people about Perth homes.
It doesn't matter which type of property in Perth you're looking for. Whether it's a single green title house, a strata titled unit, townhouse or an apartment, Antony will find the right home for you.
Searching for a home for most people can be stressful and frustrating. Antony will take out all the stress of this process for you.
After analysing your needs and preparing a brief specific to your requirements, he will search all the available listed properties that meet your criteria. A shortlist of properties will then be made which best suit your needs. Factors such as the following will be taken into consideration :
- Location
- Proximity to schools
- Proximity to universities
- Proximity to shopping centres
- Proximity to parks and leisure activities
- Access to public transport
The advantage that Antony has over a Buyers Agent is that he is a Registered Architect and house expert who has specialist knowledge of Perth homes. As well as taking all the above factors into consideration he will assess the shortlisted properties for issues such as :
- Build quality of the home
- Energy efficiency and sustainability
- Renovation potential
- Advise if there are any unauthorised structures on the property
The shortlisted properties will then be presented to you for consideration and you will be advised of all the pros and cons of each. If you are interested in any or all of the properties Antony will then organise a viewing with you. To get a better feel for the home it's important to view the property a couple of times, preferably at different times of the day.
If one of the homes appeals to you, Antony will proceed with further investigation of the property. If all the checks prove to be positive you can then proceed to negotiate with the selling agent regarding purchasing the property.
Build Quality
Poor workmanship may not be visible to most people. If you have a home that is poorly built, it will cost you money in repairs and maintenance. If you sell the property in future it may reduce your eventual sale price and may take longer to sell.
If you are buying a house you need to get expert advice from a trusted independent professional. Antony is a Registered Architect and will advise you if the house has been built to an acceptable standard.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Antony will also advise you if the house is energy efficient. For example:
- Does the house have good solar orientation (which will to reduce your energy bills)?
- If the house has good solar orientation it can use the sun to naturally heat the home in winter. If it has poor solar orientation it may be more expensive to heat.
- Is the house going to be hot in summer because of poor orientation with large unshaded windows facing east and west?
- Is the house well ventilated to take advantage of the cooling breezes to naturally cool the house in summer?
- Are the light fittings energy efficient or are they going to consume unnecessary power and increase your energy bills?
Renovation Potential
If you are considering renovating or extending the home in the future, Antony will advise you of the possibilities and the restrictions you may face. Distance from boundaries as required by the council, the location and depth of the sewer on the property, as well as any heritage restrictions need to be considered.
These factors will have implications with regard to any modifications you may want to carry out on the existing home. By getting expert advice in the beginning you can avoid buying a home which may not be suitable for any future extension or renovation.
Unauthorised Structures on the Property
Many Perth properties have unauthorised structures (ie sheds, patios, garages, balconies etc) that have been built without getting a Building Permit. Under the Building Act 2011, the majority of building and demolition works require a Building Permit to be issued by the local council.
If the local council becomes aware of any unauthorised structures on your property (ie during the property sales process or if a complaint is received from a neighbouring property owner or interested party) it could result in the council :
- Issuing a building order to stop work, demolish, alter, repair or remove the unauthorised structure/ work.
- Commencing legal proceedings in a court to remedy any unauthorised building work.
- Compelling a land owner to obtain a Building Approval Certificate or an Occupancy Permit.
Before you buy a home Antony can check with the local council if any built structures on the property are unauthorised. Or, if you already own a property with any unauthorised structures, Antony can make an application on your behalf to the local council for a Building Approval Certificate to be issued for retrospective approval of any unauthorised works.
Do You Need Finance?
Antony has preferred finance partners that can help you if you need a loan to purchase your next home. These finance brokers will discuss with you your circumstances and needs and then evaluate your complete financial situation. They will then work out your affordable borrowing capacity and provide you with pre approval for your loan. This will allow you to establish a budget for your home purchase.
They will also show you what lenders and loans are most suited to you, as well as doing all the required paperwork. With their industry knowledge they will advise you of the best deals available and ways to save you money. This may involve switching you from one lender to another but without any inconvenience to you.