If you’re thinking about buying a kit home, it’s a good decision. Kit homes are affordable compared to building a home the traditional way. However, there are some basic but important checks
you should perform before making your purchase. Below are some key things to inspect to make sure that you don’t face problems later.
Your kit home’s foundation is everything. It doesn’t matter how good your home kit is if it’s sitting on bad ground. Check whether the site has been leveled improperly. Look for cracks in the foundation or concrete slabs.
Walk around and check if there’s anything that looks uneven. If your land is on a slope, make sure water drains away from the house, not toward it. A poor foundation will lead to issues with just about everything else.
Kit homes work by fitting panels together like puzzle pieces. If those pieces don’t line up right, you’ll have issues. You should:
Look at where panels meet and see whether there are visible gaps
Run your hand along joints to feel for air movement
Push gently on walls to test if they’re solid
Check corners where walls meet
Gaps mean drafts, water leaks, and higher energy bills. Everything should fit tightly with no wiggle room.
Your kit home needs proper moisture barriers between the structure and the ground. Without them, you’re asking for dampness, mold and rotting timber. Check that barriers are installed and not damaged. Examine your insulation to ensure it isn’t squashed or torn. Good insulation keeps your home comfortable and lowers your bills.If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, getting experts like Inscope Property Inspections involved is the best decision. They use thermal imaging to spot moisture problems you’d never see yourself.
In Melbourne kit homes, your roof is what keeps everything dry. To inspect your roof, start by walking around outside and looking up. Check that roof panels connect properly and all screws are tight. Look at the gutters and edges for gaps. Check the flashing around vents and chimneys; these spots leak first if they’re installed incorrectly.
Windows and doors need proper sealing, otherwise you’ll feel every breeze and hear every noise from outside. Poor seals allow moisture in, which damages frames and walls over time. Some quick checks you can do include:
Open and close each window and door, they should move smoothly
Run your hand around frames to feel for drafts
Look for gaps between frames and walls
Check that the locks work properly
Even if your kit home isn’t finished, the electrical and plumbing systems need to be right. Fixing these later means ripping into walls. Check that power outlets are where you need them. Look at exposed wiring to make sure it’s secured properly.
For plumbing, check that pipes are supported and connections look solid. If there are any drips or dodgy joints, get them fixed now. If you’re not confident checking this yourself, bring in a licensed electrician and plumber. Better safe than sorry.
Your kit home needs to meet Australian Building Code standards, and you need proof. Make ensure you’ve got certificates for materials, engineering reports, and all required permits. This matters when you insure the property or try to sell it later. Missing paperwork can stop you from getting an occupancy certificate.
Kit homes make building affordable and straightforward, but easier doesn’t mean you should skip important checks. Your kit home should save you money and hassle, not create more of both. A bit of careful inspection now means years of comfortable, problem-free living later.
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