Before putting your furniture in a new house, it is very important to make sure that there are no faults or hidden defects that you might have missed when the house was still occupied by the previous owners. A brief overview of the points to check.

Moving in: between enthusiasm and stress

Moving into a new home is exciting. This is the perfect time to start from scratch and reinvent your interior. However, there is nothing more stressful than moving. Especially since we sometimes have unpleasant surprises regarding the state of the house. So, before repainting and installing your furniture, it is better to examine each detail of your new property one by one to check that everything is working properly.

The list of things to check before moving in

Take an in-depth tour

Before moving in, do a thorough home inspection. It will be easier for you to identify problems if the slot is empty. It is at this stage that you will be able to check that the repairs agreed before with the previous owners have indeed been carried out.

The foundations

Foundation problems are a real concern and can be very expensive to fix. To spot poor foundations, watch for cracks in walls, especially those around doors or windows. Difficult doors and windows that get stuck are another sign that should alert you.

The roof

Repairing a roof in poor condition is a big part of home renovation. This is why it is important to examine the roof, not only in terms of structure but also appearance. Look for visual signs of damage (loose or broken tiles). Also examine the roof from the inside of the house to check if there are signs of humidity or mould. If you find one or the other, be aware that repairs are to be expected.

insulation

The quality of the insulation. The energy performance diagnosis (EPD) already gives you an indication. But also check the state of sound insulation with the outside, as well as between the different rooms and floors.

plumbing and heating

Check for any water leaks or dampness in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Check the condition of the seals, the presence of mains drainage, the dimensions of the hot water tank. Take an interest in the heating mode with which the house is equipped: gas, oil, solar…. Inspect the radiators.

Floors and walls

Thoroughly examine the floors and walls of your new home. Look for bumps, stains, mold or even cracks: are they wide and long? Horizontal or vertical? Are they close to doors or windows? Go into detail by rummaging through each room, checking if the tiles or flooring are intact or have any cracks or swelling.

Cracks may not just be simple flaws in the plaster but may also indicate the presence of structural damage. If in doubt, have them examined by a professional. Also, don’t be afraid to lift a corner of carpet or peel off a piece of wallpaper if anything looks suspicious.

roof windows

If roof windows are already present in the house, they may be old or do not correspond to the desired aesthetic. Check their condition, the possible presence of condensation or mould, the proper functioning of the ventilation (today’s roof windows incorporate an excellent ventilation system). If they don’t match what you expect (bad condition, bad color, too small size, bad positioning in relation to your future layout) for your ideal home, think about changing them . It’s a simple, quick and less expensive job than you might imagine.

And now dream!

Now that you’ve walked around your home and made sure everything is in working order, you can then get creative and consider the work to get your dream home.

Bring in more natural light:

Daylight  has a positive effect on mood, energy, sleep and even health. Creating additional openings in the facade but also in the roof will make the house more joyful and visually larger, and this influx of light will benefit the whole family. Indeed, the contribution of light makes it possible to make a room more flexible and evolutionary in time. Roof windows thus allow a constant supply of light where it is needed.

Expand the house:

Creating is an excellent way not only to live better as a family but also to increase the value of your house the day you sell it.

Create a rooftop terrace:

A roof terrace or even a balcony will be particularly appreciated on sunny days to take advantage of the sun’s rays and the breeze. Whether it is a Saint-Tropez terrace or installed on a flat roof, it will be a real added value for the house.

Open the kitchen to the living room:

If it is possible to open the kitchen onto the living room, do not deprive yourself of it, and think of the central island, which is particularly practical and convivial: it offers you space to cook, the children do their homework there, the friends have a drink there, we settle down there to surf the Internet… The kitchen becomes a real place of life and sharing. Do not hesitate to enrich it with a skylight thanks to a roof window to make the space brighter and more inspiring.

Make the house breathe:

In a house that is too airtight, fresh air does not enter and the indoor air is not renewed as it should be. With new roof windows , you will not only benefit from an additional contribution of daylight but you will also ventilate the house with fresh and pure air thanks to the chimney effect which will contribute to the good health of the whole family. . You can also add the intelligent VELUX® ACTIVE system which detects CO2 levels, air temperature and humidity, opens and closes windows and blinds autonomously and allows you to intervene whenever you want from the app.