I’m a property valuer and these are the red flags that will immediately turn me off buying a home in Sydney
A real estate appraiser has marked on the dotted line the types of properties she would never own and the steps she would take before signing.
Belinda Botzolis, from Sydney, knows what to look for when it comes to homes – and encourages other buyers to be ‘picky’ and ‘don’t settle for something just because it’s cheap’.
When looking for potential homes, she would never consider a home directly across from a school, railroad tracks or a south-facing home.
‘I’ve seen it all, I know what works and what doesn’t. There are certain things about a property, and as an appraiser I say ‘a hard no to that,'” Ms. Botzolis endorsed a video.
‘Mainly because it produces a risk assessment for the bank in the valuation report and especially because it will affect the overall marketability of the property.’
For starters, Ms Botzolis said she would never buy a property without first arranging a building and pest inspection.
“Even if I’m buying a house to extensively renovate or even tear down and rebuild, a building and pest inspection is a must,” she said.
The report will highlight any potential concerns regarding the structure, drainage, plumbing, termite and roof damage. This service usually costs between $500 and $800.
During this process, she also has a qualified builder or professional interpret the report, who will let her know if there are any “red flags” before she makes the purchase.
As for strata properties – such as units or apartments – Ms Botzolis said she would always ask for a strata report.
“I want to know if there will be any special levies, if there have been in the past, if there are any issues in the building, because remember, you’re sharing that building with all the other lot holders,” she said.
When looking for potential homes, Belinda Botzolis (pictured) would never consider a property that is directly across the street from a school, railway line or a south-facing property
Ms Botzolis is only interested in a house if it faces north – or close to it – to get the “most amount of sunlight.”
She also wouldn’t buy a house on a main road because of the loud noise from the street, nor would she consider one if there were overhanging power lines or if it was close to a substation.
As an appraiser, these aspects tend to “affect the marketability and desirability of the home.”
Ms Botzolis added that she would not buy a house that backs onto a railway line, if it is too close to industrial work or if it is directly across the road from a school because it is far too loud.
As for non-essentials, she cheekily said she would need a house with a walk-in gown.
The video has now been viewed more than 11,400 times on TikTok and others thanked her for sharing the insights.
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