If you’re putting off buying a house because it’s winter, then experts say there’s no need.
Winter is a great time to buy because you can notice things about a property which are not so apparent in the summer, says Dan Manford, Barfoot & Thompson’s Glenfield, Auckland branch manager.
“In summer every house looks great but winter gives you a chance to see how well the property performs in the wet and the cold.”
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Where is the sun?
Top of Manford’s tips of what to look for when buying in winter is the location of the sun.
Everyone wants a north-facing property but not everyone can have one.
“Obviously, south-facing houses are colder but it all depends on the circumstances.”
The direction of the sun you need to make life pleasant depends on the house and the geography around the house, Manford says.
Winter also gives you a chance to take in the mood and temperature of the property when is is rainy and cold. So you'll get a better sense of what heating there is or whether you will need to spend to get the warmth factor to the right level for you.
Check out the garden
Looking at the garden at the most difficult time of the year gives you an idea of how easy it really is to maintain.
“It’s quite easy to make a garden look beautiful in summer – in winter it gets a lot harder. If it’s not looking that great it gives you a very real and very truthful idea of what that’s going to be like – and if it is beautifully maintained, how much effort is going into maintaining it?”
Think trees
Are there trees which have dropped loads of leaves into a soggy mess, or are there trees which need to be trimmed or cut down to admit more low winter sun?
And also notice trees for the privacy factor, Manford says.
In winter you get to see if the trees are deciduous and see if, without leaves, you find the neighbours can see into your property.
Drains
How wet is that lawn getting? Are you getting pooling water in different locations? After heavy rain fall, you can get a better sense of how well water drains off the property, or how muddy or unusable parts of the garden become.
Geography
It’s easier to spot slippery driveway issues in winter.
“Are you going to break your neck when you make your way down the steep driveway (or when you’re walking the dog)?” asks Manford.
Mould
Manford recommends you get a robust building inspection but says in winter it’s easier to spot potential leaky building issues or temperature issues. You can see whether the windows are single or double glazed, and whether there is a lack of insulation and a lack of natural sunlight, or how well ventilated kitchens or bathrooms are .
“All of those things become far more apparent in winter.”
And when checking out insulation, make sure the insulation is sufficient under the 2008 Building Code otherwise you may have to spend to upgrade it.
Neville Scott, the chief executive of the New Zealand Institute of Building Inspectors, agrees winter can show up some issues but he points out the issues are present all year round.
“Things might show up more during winter because it’s wet but that doesn’t mean it’s not there if it’s dry.”
Mould can be wiped down so check the curtains for any signs, and check window frames for signs of condensation.
Be alert if you see fencing or retaining walls on a lean but issues with poor construction will be hidden any time of the year, so the recommendation is to get that building inspection.
