How to prepare before you start inspecting properties

Buying a home can be exciting, but it can also become overwhelming quickly when you’re comparing different properties, price points and locations.

Doing a little preparation before you start attending open homes can help you make clearer decisions and focus on properties that genuinely suit your budget, lifestyle and priorities.

Understand your buying position

Before you begin inspecting, it’s important to have a clear understanding of where you stand financially.

Speak with your lender or mortgage broker about your borrowing capacity, available deposit and what your repayments could look like. It can also help to think about the budget you’re comfortable with, rather than focusing only on the maximum amount you may be able to borrow.

Look beyond the purchase price

The advertised price isn’t the only cost to consider when buying a property.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to allow for costs such as stamp duty, conveyancing or solicitor fees, building and pest inspections, insurance and moving expenses.

There may also be ongoing costs after settlement, including council rates, water charges, utilities and strata or body corporate fees where applicable.

Understanding these costs early can give you a more realistic picture of what owning the property will look like.

Decide what really matters to you

It’s easy to fall in love with a beautiful kitchen or perfectly styled living room, but a home also needs to work for your everyday life.

Before you inspect, think about the things that are most important to you, such as location, commute, schools, nearby amenities, number of bedrooms, outdoor space or the overall floorplan.

Separating your must-haves from your nice-to-haves can make it much easier to compare properties and recognise where you’re willing to compromise.

Inspect with greater clarity and confidence

The more prepared you are before you walk through the front door, the easier it becomes to assess each property against what genuinely matters to you.

To make the process simpler, we’ve created a practical resource to help you organise your buying position, budget and property priorities before you start inspecting.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRE-INSPECTION BUYER PREPARATION CHECKLIST

A little preparation can go a long way towards making your property search feel clearer, more focused and less stressful.

Real estate, simplified.