House hunting can be an emotional and stressful experience, especially if you do not ask the right questions or do not ask any questions at all. To have a successful house hunting experience, you must ask the right questions. These inquiries will aid you in your search.
1. History of House
Older houses are more prone to wear and tear. They are frequently prone to mold, plumbing issues, structural issues, roof leakage, an unsafe electrical system, and wall cracks, but if properly maintained, they are free of all of these problems.
However, newly built houses typically have fewer or no issues because the majority of the materials used in the construction process are all new.
2. What Is The Electricity Situation?
This is a major issue, particularly in Nigeria. The reality is that some areas have more hours of electricity supply than others, so you must inquire about the neighborhood’s electricity situation.
3. Security
Given the current state of the country, security should be a top priority for you. It is critical to ascertain the area’s security.
4. Peaceful Or Noisy Neighborhood
Some areas are predominantly noisy, which is common in neighborhoods with schools, loud generators, recreational centers, religious houses, or marketplaces. Some religious buildings in Nigeria have public address systems mounted on their roofs. As expected, the volume of the public address system is loud enough to cause complaints from neighbors.
Find out what kinds of properties are nearby your home. Consider renting a house built next to a factory with loud machines and equipment. As a result, you must be in a peaceful and family-oriented environment.
5. Prepaid OR Postpaid Electricity
In Nigeria, there are two types of electricity meters used in properties: pre-paid meters and post-paid meters. These meters are used to read and calculate users’ electricity consumption rates.
- Postpaid: Payments for electricity consumption are made using the post-paid meter. Prices are frequently estimated and exorbitant.
- Prepaid: Payment is made in advance and is controllable by the user.
When renting a house, you should be interested in knowing which one it has because it affects when and how you pay for electricity use.
6. Good Drainage System
In Nigeria, we have two weather seasons: dry and rainy. Some areas have poor drainage systems, which you don’t want to discover during the rainy season, especially after renting a house. To avoid this problem, ask current residents about the drainage system before renting the house.
7. Plumbing
You should look into plumbing services. You should inspect the pipes to ensure that they are not clogged, restricting water flow, or leaking. Check to see if the house has an adequate drainage system.
8. Electrical Issue
It is also critical to inspect the electrical connections and appliances. Check that the cables are in good working order. You must ask critical questions such as, “Are the sockets working?” Is there any evidence of fuse overheating? Is there a history of fires in the house?
9. Walls And Roofing Leakage
Check for roof leaks, cracks in the walls and ceilings, and where the walls meet the ceilings. Major cracks in the walls could be dangerous. Inspect the walls for water leaks as well.