Buying Tips

As we mentioned in our tips for sellers, buying a home is all about emotions – and smart buyers leave their emotions at the front door when they inspect a property. If the real estate agent thinks you're in love with the place, you could very well become putty in their hands when the time comes to negotiate the price. Our recommendation is to act mildly detached and cool about the property you are inspecting – saving the screams of delight and jumping for joy for when you get back into your car.

Remember that the seller has presented the house in its best possible light. Your goal is to look beneath the surface and find out the truth about the home you're inspecting.

Here are a few things to keep an eye out for:

• dripping taps
• rising damp or moisture in walls
• old wiring
• warped doors and windows
• rusted gutters
• stained or misshaped ceilings
• mortar deterioration
• evidence of white ant activity
• broken or leaning fences

Perth's inner northern suburbs predominantly feature older homes, many of which have been renovated or extended. With this in mind, we recommend that you engage the services of an independent building inspector and make the outcome of this inspection part of your Offer & Acceptance conditions.

You should also consider the aspect of the property. Homes that benefit from winter sun (northern aspect) will be more energy efficient than those that don't.

The property's location is also very important. The property should be convenient to public transport, highway and freeway access, schools, shopping and – if you're really lucky – parks, playgrounds, restaurants and cinemas.

Do your homework. Find out what the same sort of house on a similar size block in the same area has recently sold for. And, once you're ready to make an offer, be ready to play hard-ball. You could save thousands by sticking to your guns.