We all have an idea about the property of our dreams, and we can scrimp and save and search endlessly to find something that will suit us and give us the chance to relax and decorate and fill whatever sort of property it might be with timeless memories.
Whether this property is a house you have bought, one you are renting, an apartment or flat, or even a vacation home, you want it to be your sanctuary away from the world. You want it to be a place that you can call your own and look forward to coming back to after a stressful day on the grind, or somewhere you can escape to recharge, refresh, and reevaluate.
However, as picturesque as this property might look at first, there is always the possibility that there is something lurking beneath the surface that will turn out to be ruinous for the happy, homey life you have planned. This sort of nightmare can take years to rear its ugly head, but sometimes, it will be apparent almost immediately.
CLEAN UP
When moving into a property that has already been lived in, you should expect that things aren’t entirely perfect. There might be the odd nick and scratch here and there. It could be that there are some unfortunate but ultimately inevitable stains on the carpet.
Typically, the previous owners or renters will do what they can to clean up any mess. But some people aren’t as keen on paying it forward as others and there it could happen that they move out, but leave everything they simply didn’t care for behind.
And this is the last thing you want when moving into a new property. You want to walk in, unpack your bags and feel harmonious, not spend hours and perhaps days throwing out other people’s trash. Should this happen to you, then getting in touch with the estate agent and even a lawyer to organize compensation and a professional clean up service that you shouldn’t have to pay for.
MAINTENANCE
While you will expect to be responsible for the general upkeep of your property with things such as replacing light bulbs and door handles, there might also be parts of the home that were not as visible when moving in.
Many people will fall into the trap of being just so excited to find some place to call their own that they will neglect to carry out a thorough inspection, or the estate agent and previous tenants will conveniently forget to inform you about, due to fear of you backing out. However, carrying out proper maintenance in the areas of the house that are most prone to break down and wear and tear is essential.
When looking around the property for the first time, it is essential that you check and double check places such as windows, the attic, bedrooms and cupboards, and the kitchen, as well as the backyard if there is one, to ensure there are no nasty surprises hiding from you. Catching any issues at first will eliminate responsibility for you.
However, if this is left unchecked, then you could be held accountable for such issues when you choose to move out later on and be forced to pay for something that was no fault of your own.
ENERGY
Aspects such as maintenance and energy are very closely linked, as poor maintenance and upkeep can have an enormous effect on the energy usage within your home. This is because of the potential issues relating to energy wasting utilities like boilers and heaters as well as holes or gaps in areas such as the window at the roof.
You never want to be paying more than you need to for your energy bills, and it might be that you have discovered and worked out the best plan for you and the other residents that will ensure you don’t go out of pocket when merely trying to stay warm. The problem is, many companies will tell you to just throw on an extra layer, but this does not always solve the problem.
Energy costs money, a lot of money too, and so if you feel you are spending far too much on your energy bills, then searching for solutions within the home and fixing any problems will make those monthly bills that much easier to swallow.
CANCELLATION
Often, if you have found you are staying in a home crafted by Satan and Sons Building Company, you will be counting down the hours until you can escape, or you will just pack up all your things and leave. However, it is never that easy. You have signed and contract, and as much as you might want to leave, you will need to see it out.
Breaking a contract can have ruinous effects on your future prospects when it comes to renting. You might be seen as an unreliable tenant and as unfortunate and perhaps unfair as it sounds, when it comes to renting, the house always wins.
This problem is further exasperated when it comes to timeshare holiday homes, which comes with many hidden rules and regulations and can seem impossible to rid yourself of this financial black hole. Click here to find out more information on how to cancel your timeshare.
That being said, it is not the end of the world. If you approach your estate agent sensibly and respectfully, as well as voicing concerns when they arise and not letting them pile up, you may be able to get some semblance of compensation. Furthermore, not all landlords are bad, and so discussing with them could prove fruitful.
DREAM TO NIGHTMARE
Everybody had heard stories about dream homes becoming nightmares in the blink of an eye. It could be due to poor craftsmanship, it could be due to neglect from previous tenants, or it could even be greedy landlords looking to rinse you for everything you have.
Sometimes, this is unavoidable, but being the better person is as crucial as approaching any new property diligently. You need to always expect the worse, and there will no doubt be something wrong with the property, even if it seems trivial at first.
What you don’t want to happen is end up being charged for damage and decay that was not your fault. Take pictures upon your move in to give you further evidence, and take steps towards getting any issues fixed before they spiral out of control.