What to Consider Before Buying a Property

Every confident purchase rests on verification. Before money changes hands, the following areas should each have a clear, documented answer.

Property documents

Ask for the full document chain rather than a single page. Typically this includes the title deed, previous deeds, the survey plan, the building approval, the certificate of conformity and recent rates receipts.

Ownership verification

• Confirm the seller's identity matches the deed exactly.
• Check for co-owners, inheritance claims or power-of-attorney arrangements.
• Have a lawyer run a title search covering at least thirty years.
• Confirm the property is free of mortgages, caveats or pending litigation.

Never rely on photocopies. Your lawyer should verify originals and the registry extract before any advance payment is made.

Location and infrastructure

Assess road width and access rights, drainage and flood history, street lighting and the general standard of the surrounding development. Confirm whether the access road is public or a private right of way, and that the right of way is recorded in the deed.

Utilities

Confirm active water and electricity connections and their meter status, sewerage or septic arrangements, and fibre or broadband availability. Reconnecting or upgrading services later is often slower and costlier than expected.

Surrounding environment

Spend time observing noise, air quality, traffic and neighbouring land use. Industrial units, night-time venues and busy junctions all affect both comfort and resale.

Future investment potential

Look at recent transaction prices in the same street, rental demand and any announced infrastructure. A property that rents easily is usually a property that sells easily.

Before you sign

Financial readiness

Have your funds, loan approval in principle and legal budget confirmed before negotiating, so you can move quickly on the right property.

Written agreement

The agreement to sell should state the price, payment schedule, handover date, included fixtures and the consequences of default in plain language.