Before you buy the House

Buying your first home is exciting. It can also be one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make.

Most first-time buyers know what they want from a home - but far fewer know what to look for in the building itself.

Before You Buy the House is a practical, plain-English guide designed to help first-time buyers understand what they are really purchasing before they commit.

Written from a building surveyor's perspective, this book explains the common problems buyers may encounter and, more importantly, what those problems could mean.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• spot common warning signs during a house viewing
• understand damp, mould and moisture problems
• recognise cracks and signs that may need further investigation
• identify roof, gutter and drainage issues
• understand extensions, loft conversions and structural alterations
• tell the difference between a mortgage valuation and a building survey
• choose the right type of survey for the property
• make sense of a Level 2 or Level 3 survey report
• understand when further specialist investigations may be needed
• obtain realistic repair quotations
• decide whether to proceed, renegotiate or walk away

You'll also learn the building terms that often appear in survey reports - including damp-proof courses, suspended timber floors, air bricks, lintels, flashing, settlement and subsidence - with clear explanations of what they mean and why they matter.

This is not a textbook for surveyors.

It is a practical guide for ordinary homebuyers who want to feel more confident viewing properties, asking questions and understanding professional advice.

Whether you are buying a flat, terrace, semi-detached house, older property or recently renovated home, this guide will help you look beyond the décor and understand the building underneath.

You do not need to become a building surveyor. You just need to know what to notice, what to ask and when to get professional advice.

Buy your first home with your eyes open.