Before you decide to invest heavily in a home, make sure that you cover all bases and check the quality of the home you are about to purchase for you and your family. In India, almost a lac of home-buyers buy their property without actually knowing the structural faults and issues with their homes. Usually, while buying a home we often place a lot of importance on the location, amenities, nearby facilities, etc, and although these are important considerations to make, one needs to inspect their home for structural integrity, design flaws, walls, ceilings, etc. Here’s a checklist you can use for a thorough home inspection-
For Floors and Ceilings, check for cracks and alignment of the doors and windows as it may reflect structural and workmanship flaws. Check for peeling off paint, and water sports on the walls and ceilings, they usually have a light brown color.
For the Carpet area, make sure that your developer is following the RERA norms. According to the RERA, the definition of carpet area is changed so as to stop unscrupulous means of inflating the size of the apartment. Carpet area as per RERA is defined as ‘the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment'.
Make sure your window gapings are sealed, as open gaps may lead to inflated electricity bills due to energy loss. The gap between the window and the sill should be checked as this gap may cause a lot of problems during the rainy season.
Check the tiling, look for any faulty tiles or dado tiles, which can fall sometimes if they are hollow. Look for any sharp edges of the tile which may hurt your feet if gone unnoticed.
Check for plumbing measures-like clogged pipes and toilets, leaks in the concealed pipeline, and check the PVC pipes, basins, faucets, and showers.
Check for electricity fixtures- this is quite important as faulty or old wiring can cause fatal accidents. Get a professional inspection company to check the main wiring, bulbs, lights, energy efficiency, and if there are adequate numbers of electrical points in every room.