Buying a house is very important for its cost and because it's the place where you have to live with your family.
So, you must have a careful check on it to verify several things:

1) firstly, if the house is free from mortgages or debts by its seller.

2) verify if the house is built in a place not in danger of flooding, landslides and earthquakes (in this case, verify if built with ANTI-SEISMIC criteria) or near too strong pollution or noise sources, for your health and quietness.

3) have suspects if its price is strangely low: there's a scam hidden for the reasons above and for the following!

4) control the RADON level. Radon is a noble radioactive gas coming from many volcanic rocks and your house could be built on them or also made of them; a high level of this gas could expose you and your family to a higher risk of cancer. This gas comes from the ground and slowly tends to accumulate in poorly aerated car-boxes, cellars and ground-level floors. So, if the house in exam is built in a volcanic area, it's worth to call a specialized laboratory to perform a test or ask informations, before your definitive decision.

5) check carefully the house state; integrity of walls and/or roof(no breaks or damp leakings), doors, windows, the conditions of water pipes in the bathroom and in the kitchen and the electric and heating system.

6) verify if the house is too far from main roads and other houses, if you don't want it. In case of troubles, many things become more difficult and even dangerous.

7) if you're going to buy a flat in a town block, verify that the administration expenses fraction you should pay is not too high, as it can occur in old, elegant buildings (frequent in Europe) or simply in old ones, to avoid very high expenses when it's time to restore the façade, the roof and so on. To limit this risk, it's better to choose a flat in a MODERN block or condominium.

8) verify that the house and its access is easy and comfortable, if you are old, and/or with motion handicaps (stairs, entrance, common lift,...)

Good luck!

Learn more about this author, Aldo Bonincontro.
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