Property Issues

At face value, this property (pic below) appears to be in good shape, and apart from the structural cracks that have formed where the addition adjoins the main house, it generally is.

Cracks of a structural nature are always a concern and (mostly) noticeable. However, some buyers may not see them or know the severity (if noticed) when viewing the property. Should the seller not disclose this defect, it can become a point of contention post-purchase, as repairs to this type of issue are expensive and will become even more costly (in rands and frustration) if it necessitates litigation. Fortunately, the buyers of this property had us do a pre-purchase inspection, where we identified this issue (amongst others) and shared the root cause and repair options with them. The inspection outcomes allowed the buyers to make a more informed decision and approach the transaction differently.

P.S. Often, sellers don’t realise the extent of issues on their property and the severity, thus derailing the purchase opportunity. We, therefore, recommend that sellers have pre-sale inspections done. It builds goodwill and shortens negotiation time because buyers have fewer objections.