Ten things not to do when buying a home

Here is a list of ten things not to do when you are trying to buy a home.

1. Buying a home because you're fed up of looking or buying the first one you see.

2. Not going back numerous times to see if the property is affected by external elements such as noise pollution, bad neighbours or their pets, smells etc.

3. Not telling the agent to "keep you in the loop" if the property looks like selling. Ask for a contract for sale and then the agent will have to inform you if another buyer places an offer.

4. Looking at hundreds of homes in your local print magazine or online and not physically inspecting them. Never judge a book by its cover.

5. Not doing a comparable price sold analysis. This goes without saying.

6.  Telling an agent what your top budget is for a property because chances are they will make you spend all of it.

7. Not preparing and planning your property inspection list for the Saturday property run. End up missing a lot of open inspections due to wasted times and non-suitable viewings. Ultimately, missing the inspection of the home you would have bought.

8. Not being able to have some foresight and imagination with what you can do with a home to change it and make it perfect for you. Add some value in the process.

9. Trying to time the property market and to buy a home at its lowest point. Good luck!

10. Not doing a building and pest inspection or strata inspection report.

Robert Skeen is a buyers' agent and director of Skeen Property Buyers.