Buying a House: Finding a Home 5

Buying a House: Finding a Home 5

Points to check during a site visit

If you find a property you like in a a real estate ad, visit the site and check in detail what you cannot know through the ad or other information available.

Point 1: Check the surrounding environment

During a site visit, you need to thoroughly check the surrounding environment, including convenience and comfort. It is important to check with your own eyes not only the access to the station, availability of public facilities and convenience facilities, etc., but also whether there are any objectionable facilities or large vacant lots. If there is a large vacant lot, the environment may be completely changed by the construction of a large building. Signs may be posted to inform you of buildings that are to be constructed, so be sure to check these signs. When checking the surrounding environment, it is recommended to check the surrounding area with a map in advance to facilitate the confirmation process.
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It is also important to check the surrounding environment at different times of the day and on different days of the week. The atmosphere of the neighborhood may be different during the day and night, and on weekdays and holidays. Also, when it rains, you can see where rainwater flows in and where drainage is poor. If you buy a house, you will live there for a long time, so check carefully.

The Great East Japan Earthquake has raised awareness of disasters such as flooding and liquefaction of the ground, as well as earthquake damage. Even if a building is sturdily constructed, lifelines may not be available due to soft ground in the surrounding area, so be sure to gather information on disaster prevention in the area you are considering purchasing. Check disaster prevention maps that predict damage from earthquakes, such as building collapse, liquefaction, and fires, as well as hazard maps for floods and tsunamis.

Example of items to check in the surrounding environment

Items to check for convenience

• Time required to the nearest station
• Time required to the bus stop
• Are the roads from the station and bus stop safe?
• How long does it take to get to school ( for children)?
• Are there parks or other places for children to play nearby?
• Is there a hospital nearby?
• Are there banks and post offices nearby?
• Is there a supermarket nearby?

Items to be check for comfort

• Are there any noisy or smelly nuisance facilities in the neighborhood?
• Are there any buildings in the vicinity that block sunlight?
• Are there any buildings planned to be constructed in the neighborhood?

Items to check for safety

• Have you checked earthquake damage (seismic intensity, liquefaction, fire, etc.) forecasts (e.g., disaster prevention maps, etc.)?
• Have you checked the estimated damage (flood, tsunami, etc.) from natural disasters (e.g., hazard maps, etc.)?
• Have you checked the information on disaster prevention and crime prevention provided by the local government?

Point 2: ​Checklist for a site visit (newly built properties)

In the case of newly built properties, the points to check differ depending on whether it is an unfinished property or a completed property. In the case of a completed property, you can actually see the property, so check in detail the size, specifications, facilities, etc., as well as the view from the windows. If you are visiting a model room for an unfinished property, consider the differences in layout and size from the property you wish to purchase. In addition, many of the facilities are optional rather than standard specifications, so be sure to check them carefully.

Examples of items to check during a site visit (newly-built properties)

Building, floor plan and facilities (for both single-family homes and condominiums)

• Orientation of the house/building
• View from the windows
• Ventilation and daylight
• Size of each room
• Room layout
• The flow line of the kitchen, bathroom, and washroom
• Specifications of water fixtures and appliances
• Storage capacity
• Color and texture of the fixtures and interior
• Exterior design
• Impression of the entrance
• Size of outdoor storage and trunk room
• Equipment such as floor heating and air conditioning
• Sound insulation, heat insulation, earthquake resistance, and durability
• Size of the garden and balcony
• Confirmation of options and standard specifications

Common areas and management (for condominiums)

• Impression of the entrance
• Presence or absence of an auto-lock system
• Number and location of elevators
• Availability and location of parking lots
• Availability and location of bicycle and motorcycle parking lots
• Location of garbage disposal facilities
• Gathering place and other common facilities
• Regulations and detailed rules for use (whether or not pets are allowed, restrictions on remodeling)
• Type of management

*If you do not know just by looking, do not hesitate to ask the representative at the site!

Point 3: ​Checklist for a site visit (existing/pre-owned properties)

For existing/preowned properties, in addition to the items to check for in a new property, you need to check the building's maintenance and facilities for damage. For single-family homes, look at the building's exterior walls, roof, building foundation and foundations, and for condominiums, look at the exterior walls and common hallways, and note whether there are any major cracks or tilts. If it is difficult to judge the condition by yourself and you are concerned, you can request a "home inspection" by a specialist such as an architect to check the deterioration of the house, whether there are any defects, and areas that need to be repaired.

When touring a used property, please be aware that the seller may be living in the property, so please mind your manners. Also, if you notice any stains, scratches, or defects in the equipment or interior, you may need to consult with the real estate agent later.

If you are purchasing a used property and remodeling it, check in advance whether you can remodel it as you wish. Mainly, for condominiums, it is necessary to check the restrictions on remodeling according to the "management agreement," and for single-family homes, it is necessary to check the restrictions according to laws and ordinances. In addition, there are cases where remodeling is difficult due to the structure of the building, so it is advisable to consult with a specialist or other professional to whom you will commission the remodeling project.

Examples of items to check during a site visit (existing/pre-owned properties)

Building, floor plan and facilities (for both single-family homes and condominiums)

• Orientation of the house/building
• Stains and scratches on exterior walls, cracks (cracks), etc.
• Scratches, cracks, etc. on foundations
• View from the windows
• Ventilation and sunlight
• Size of each room
• Room layout
• The flow line of the kitchen, bathroom, and washroom
• Specifications of water fixtures and appliances
• Stains in the kitchen and bathroom areas
• Storage capacity
• Color, texture, and stain of the interior materials
• Color, texture, stains, and opening/closing of fixtures
• Exterior design
• Impression of the entrance
• Size of outdoor storage and trunk room
• Specifications of equipment such as floor heating and air conditioning
• Sound insulation, heat insulation, earthquake resistance, and durability
• Age of the equipment and whether it is operational or not
• The size of the garden and balcony
• If the house has been remodeled, its details
• Past repair history

Common areas and management (for condominiums)

• Impression of the entrance
• Presence or absence of an auto-lock system
• Number and location of elevators
• Availability and location of parking lots
• Availability and location of bicycle and motorcycle parking lots
• Location of garbage disposal facilities
• Gathering place and other common facilities
• Whether or not pets are allowed
• Remodeling restrictions
• State of management (presence or absence of problems)
• Existence or non-existence of long-term repair plans and their actual status​

*If you do not know just by looking, do not hesitate to ask the representative at the site!

Home Inspection
A home inspection (home inspection/building inspection) is an objective diagnosis of the presence or absence of defects, areas that need to be renovated, and the timing of such renovations, conducted by an architect or other specialist with expertise in home design and construction, who investigates the deterioration of the house. The content of the survey varies depending on the survey company and the client's intentions, ranging from visual inspections to the use of specialized survey equipment.

​Especially for existing homes that have been in use for some time since they were built, it is difficult for consumers to determine the deterioration of the structural parts of the home and the need for repairs, etc. Recently, more and more homes are being bought and sold after a home inspection is requested in advance.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has formulated the "Existing Home Inspection Guidelines" to provide guidelines on inspection items, inspection methods, and procedures for inspecting the existing conditions.