Whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced homeowner, buying a new house is an exciting milestone. From viewing new build homes that need little to no work doing to them or doer-upper properties that you can completely make your own, it is no surprise that most people get carried away by the house hunting search.
Whilst most people focus on looking inside of a property, a builder has now explained why it is just as important to examine the exterior. The home expert warned that it's important to pay attention to the outside of the property to make sure you're not buying 'The House That Jack Built.'
John Sale, who works as a consultant for Fenton-based HYPE Building, says there is one hidden sign that 'gives away' whether a house is in good condition or not.
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The builder from Stoke-On-Trent has become a YouTube sensation after capturing some of the projects he goes out to on camera, reports StokeOnTrentLive.
He has covered everything in his popular videos – from how to prevent damp and what to look out for when building a house extension to how to install insulated plasterboard and concrete floors.
And in his latest instalment, John explains why you should always take a builder with you before putting an offer in.
During the five-minute and 48-second video, the builder highlights the giveaway signs that there could be something majorly wrong with a property's exterior.
While conducting a property appraisal at a bungalow, John says: "Using a spirit level and a builder's eye, these are some of the problems that I've found."
He goes on to explain the importance of checking the brickwork before potentially buying a house.
John said: "We've got some signs, on all the corners, of cracks. That's telling me there's obviously a problem high up, so I've checked out the roof and had a look at the property all the way round and I've seen that there's gaps between the wall and the soffit boards" before adding "The brickwork is terrible."
Using a four-foot spirit level John continues his 'covert' assessment of the property and highlights the importance of using the tool to check the brickwork is 'plumb' – a term used in the construction industry to describe a line that is perfectly vertical.
He adds that loose cement and hairline cracks are a 'giveaway' when it comes to knowing whether a property is a good condition or not.
But if you can't take a builder with you, John says the most important things to do are:
- Check the brickwork for cracks. They could be a sign of strain, movement or potential roof spread;
- Take a spirit level with you when viewing a property. It will tell you immediately if the brickwork is at 90 degrees (plumb)
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