Buying Real Estate In Winter

Summer is a great time to look at houses for sale, as the warm temperatures and rays of sunshine can help to make any property look picturesque.

Winter is usually a quiet period for home sales, with the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia stating that last week (May 20-24) there were around 8,700 properties on the market.

Normally, the long term average for real estate in Perth on the market is about 12,000 homes, showing that the market tends to quieten down in the winter.

However, searching for property during winter has its advantages – as you can really get an idea of how the house holds up in the colder and wetter months.

You may also be able to secure a property at a lower price, due to the smaller number of buyers that are active in the market during the winter.

If you’re planning on going to a few open homes this winter, here are a few tips to consider:

Heating

How a house retains its heat during colder temperatures is a very important factor to take into consideration when purchasing a home.

If the property that you’re looking at has a heating system then you can use the winter season to your advantage and test its functionality.

You may also want to look at windows and doors to see if they leak cold air into the home, and check what type of insulation the property has installed.

Flooding

Viewing a property in winter will allow you to truly see how it copes with rainfall. Check the driveway for flooding or pooling to see how wet it gets.

It might be a good idea to also take a look at areas surrounding the house, and see if any water comes into the house – for instance through the garage.

Don’t forget to check the ceiling for waterproofness, as well as windows and doorways.

If you’re planning to purchase a home this winter, then contact one of the experienced agents at Ray White for expert assistance.

Source: www.raywhite.com