When looking for a new house to buy, there are many things that you can do in order to make sure you are left feeling happy. Estate agents are trained to make everything seem like a dream. -Your job is to see through that and know what you’re getting before you’re tempted to buy.

It can be a stressful task, and there are a lot of things you need to think about before you make the important decision. So here’s a checklist of everything you need to look out for before buying.

Switch off the lights.

Most estate agents walk into a home and turn on all the lights. But no one has every single light on at home. So by changing the lighting to what you would do if it were really your house, you will have a better idea of what the place will look like.

Visit again at another time.

You may have had the viewing at the perfect time when the neighborhood is silent. You may come back again to realize there’s a deafening train that passes by three times a day, or airplanes, or even teenage kids driving up and down on their moped every hour.

Have a closer look at the rooms.

Double check if the bedrooms you’re looking at contain tiny beds, as this will make the bedroom appear a lot bigger than it actually is. Also try and visualize whether your furniture will fit in there, or if you’re buying new stuff, will it look right?

Is the layout the right one for you?

Go over what you had in mind before your viewing. Were you set on having a master bedroom with a huge ensuite bathroom? Or was your focus more on the dining area, for throwing dinner parties with your friends and family? Or maybe you were more interested in a large garden for those perfect barbecues in the sun.

If the house doesn’t meet your needs – it’s not the one for you.

Is there enough storage space?

Bear in mind that when you move, you are most likely going to have things to put away in storage, like a shed, garage or attic. Make sure the house has these. Otherwise, you may find you have to throw out a lot that more than you wanted to.

Clearing out their things.

Sometimes the former owner of the house offers to leave some items that could be of use, like furniture, or spare beds, and even gardening supplies like plant pots and tools. Although the gesture is kind, most of the time the owner just can’t be bothered to get rid of them. If there isn’t anything of value to you, there are many places you can call to get rid of the unwanted junk. Check out www.samedayrubbishremoval.com.au for more information. For a small fee, they come and collect whatever kind of rubbish you want to throw out.

Look out for hidden spots.

Pay close attention to the walls and ceilings. There may be damp patches or discoloration hidden under a lick of paint, or even some hanging artwork, so don’t be afraid to look behind and investigate. Your nose should be a good source to use too, so have a sniff around and see if anything sticks out to you.

If you’re buying the house, it’s your absolute right to know the ins and outs of it.

Make a call or a text.

Nowadays everyone has to have a phone or tablet that works 100% of the time. So dial a number and call someone in a few different areas of the house. This will let you know if the connection is decent one or not.

Look out of the window.

What do you see in front of you? Is is appealing? Or is there something obstructing your view? Where does the sun rise and set? These are important factors to think about because you’ll be looking out of that same window every day.

Sit in the garden.

Take in the view, smell the fresh air, and have a good listen. Are you close to the main road? This puts some people off as they don’t want to hear loud motors throughout the day.

Are there a lot of plants and flower beds? Some people want a big garden full of life, but others don’t because it means maintaining it.

Don’t hold back on the questions.

Ask how many viewings the property has had, and if other people have put in offers. This will be a good indicator of whether the house is popular.

Ask what work has been done and what the most recent thing was – and why?

Talk to the seller.

One of the best questions to ask the seller is “why are you leaving?” Pay close attention to their answer and their body language. You should be able to gauge from that whether there is something wrong with the place, or if they genuinely just want a change of scenery.

Meet the neighbors.

Have a chat and see if they’re nice people. You don’t want to move in to find out they’re loud or rude. Ask if there have been break-ins in the area. You can even ask them if anyone recently died in the house, as most estate agents will fail to mention this.

Go for a walk.

How do the other properties look on the street? Do they all appeal to the eye as yours does? Is it a friendly, safe neighborhood? How far away are the shops? Is there public transport nearby?

These are all great things to ask yourself when venturing out. If you have kids, where are the best schools in the area? Is there a park not far from your house?

The most important thing of all, is to listen to your gut. If you don’t feel like it’s the right decision – even if your friends think it’s lovely and the estate agent it saying what a great deal it is – Don’t buy it if you’re not sold.