Buying a home is an exciting time. It doesn’t matter whether you are buying your first home or moving up the property ladder, the thought of completing and moving into your new home is certain to get your heart racing.
However, the feeling will quickly change if you move in and your new property floods the following winter. In some states in Australia, it is a legal requirement to disclose the fact that your property is in a bush fire or flooding zone. However, this is not always the case and, even if it is a legal requirement, once you have moved in it is difficult and expensive to pursue. In the meantime, you will be dealing with a flooded property.
That’s why you need to understand the risk of flooding yourself and decide if the house is worth it and, if it is, how you will prepare for floods.
Get A Survey
When purchasing a house you should always have a survey done to ensure that the building is structurally sound, and you are not about to get any nasty surprises. As part of this process, you should insist a flood assessment is carried out.
It is best to use a reputable and established building consultant Sydney. They have the expertise and experience to assess your home and spot the signs of damp from past floods. The consultant will also check maps and geographical data to establish the likelihood of your house flooding.
You will then have a report and be able to see the most common reason why the house floods. In some cases, it floods because the gradient is badly designed and water goes toward the house, instead of away from it. Other scenarios include flooding from rising river water or being too close to the sea.
You will need the surveyor’s report before you can decide where the water is coming from and what, if anything, you can do about it.
Why The Survey Is So Valuable
A survey should be done before your final offer is made. This allows you to use the risk of flooding to drive the price down. After all, you are either going to have to deal with a flooded home or pay for some landscaping to encourage the water to go elsewhere.
This approach can help you reduce the price and even afford a house outside of your price bracket.
It is possible to check on the government website to see if your property is in the flood risk zone. You will also need to check how recent their information is to ensure you are getting an accurate assessment of the flood risk.
Don’t Forget Your Insurance
If you live in a recognized flood risk area then you will need to advise your house insurance company and the cost of your premium will rise. This is because it is more likely that you will make a claim.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is simple. Have a survey done and then you will need to decide whether purchasing the house is worth the risk of flooding or not.
