Buying a standalone home - tips, tricks and advice

[Mike Hoxbig]

So with the lighty growing and needing more space, we've put in an offer on a standalone home.

This will be the first time that we won't be staying in an estate, and are essentially left to our own devices.

Do you guys who have made the same move have any tips and advice on things to sort out first in order of priority?

Security is obviously first priority - the place needs electric fencing and burglar bars on 4 windows. Fence around the pool. And need to repaint and do some minor fixes.

Apart from that I'm clueless. Do you need garden and pool service? Get to know the neighbours as part of some safety in community thing? What's the typical bills to expect (I'm used to just paying a levy)? Etc.

 

[powermzii]

Only been here 2 months in a standalone so here goes:

1. Pool cover or fence.. Essential if you have family members that cant swim
2. Security - get a couple of outdoor beams and cameras covering key entrances
3. Always good to know your neighbours and join local watch if possible to know whats going on
4. There will be stuff that goes wrong and it will be all on you... Its ok.. Take your time, get a project plan to sort enhancements out
5. Enjoy it, your space your rules your kingdom

EDIT : and congratulations on the house

Edit 2: garden service / help you can trust helps.
Live in the home for a while before making changes

 

[123Eish]

I would suggest Cameras, Exterior Beams/Sensors and an Electric fence both connected to your alarm.

Once you have them, you can't live without them.

 

[Speedster]

I would suggest Cameras, Exterior Beams/Sensors and an Electric fence both connected to your alarm.

Once you have them, you can't live without them.

Security, sadly, is paramount. If there are going to be small children around keeping them out of the pool (fence or appropriate cover) is an absolute must.

I've just moved into a new place this week, still figuring out how everything works (and doesn't work). Fortunately there is already a fence around the pool. Priorities for me, apart from unpacking and setting up my stuff, are sorting out the alarm and then hooking up some solar for the geyser (about 50% of electricity costs go to water heating). In time I'll be upgrading the irrigation, installing PV and an inverter, setting up home assistant and and and.

 

[HavocXphere]

Have a good crawl around the place.

Only half kidding. The stuff that is bruised knee height for you is face level for the kid. Similarly electrical anything is by default on the floor and facinating to a kid.

Burglar bars...yes but do give escape route in case of fire a thought.

Get a pool cover/fence or something. Source: have saved a kid from drowning in 30cm

 

[zerocool2009]

Been in my stand alone house for 18 years.

1. Get an alarm (find out who is pro active in the area)
2. Get a dog
3. You will save thousands on levies
4. Use the levy money for garden/pool services
5. Elec fence is just another hurdle, if they want to get in, they will
6. My biggest tip, if you are away, close all windows (dont give them an invite)

 

[Lupus]

Firstly you can get a standalone/freestanding in a complex. A free hold is one outside of a sectional title, I'm assuming this is what you're referring to?
Firstly maintenance can get costly, but the upside is you can do your own thing.

 

[Tman*]

If you know a semi competent electrician, go to Nemtek and buy all the equipment/kit you need for an electric fence. Their sales counter will tell you what you need.

I've done this DIY twice and installed all the uprights and wiring myself. Just get the electrician to do the technical bits and give you a COC. you can save quite a bit of money.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Been there done that 21 years ago I bought my first standalone house cash. Had it for 10 years and then sold it and bought an apartment. Way less hassles, home maintenance is an annual thing and never stops, it just bleeds you dry. I'm happy with paying my R1k levy and never have to worry about roof leaks, painting, geysers, insurance, security etc.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

3. You will save thousands on levies
4. Use the levy money for garden/pool services

His levies money is going to property rates and taxes...

Whereas I paid R1 600 for levies when I lived in an estate, I now pay R1 800 for property rates and taxes, water, refuse, etc. Electricity is prepaid.

Oh yeah, I see nobody mentioned it yet: get a prepaid meter if the house doesn't have one yet

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Been there done that 21 years ago I bought my first standalone house cash. Had it for 10 years and then sold it and bought an apartment. Way less hassles, home maintenance is an annual thing and never stops, it just bleeds you dry. I'm happy with paying my R1k levy and never have to worry about roof leaks, painting, geysers, insurance, security etc.

But you still need insurance. What if you braai on your balcony and one night you pass out and the place catches fire?

 

[The_MAC]

Start from the inside and work your way outside in terms of maintainence and upgrades.

Security is an exception and as you mentioned is first priority.

Ensure you are getting all your utility bills and that you have your insurance in order.

Check the pool filter sand.

If possible, get a reliable garden technician, it helps when someone can keep the outside tidy and the garden under control, you will most likely have a lot of DIY to do inside.

 

[rh1]

1. Well budgets tend to be the tightest when buying a house, my first house and smallest house absorbed all my savings on minor repairs.
2. Prioritise on issues that affect the building versus cosmetic issues and/or Security.
3. Change the locks, reset/clear the sliding gate/garage doors motors. Dont assume they have given you all the keys/remotes.
4. Over time replace lights with leds, outside spot lights could still be the old type. Inside, most homes have already moved over to led globes.
5. Pool, change the sand in the filter.
6. Depending on where you are, a wellpoint for irrigation may be an investment, eg, Cape Town.
7. You mentioned paint, remember, its the preparation that is key, on my first house, which really needed a paint, I started by scraping and removing the old paint and lichen(?) from the outside walls, I did it after work, my wife was not to happy as I was not painting, she took matters in her own hands and got the guy that did gardening and minor maintenence at her work to come and paint. Which he did, he slapped the paint all over the unprepared walls. The first time I that I got upset with my wife. Needless to say we had to repaint a year later. I told her, the painting is the easy part, its the prep that is key.

 

[pb41]

Here are some tips from my checklist when I last moved house:

Check where your water shut off valve is located in case you ever have a water leak. Same applies with the electrical distribution board and main power switch.
Arrange internet / fibre connections.
Check that all plugs, showers, taps and toilets are working properly.
Record the electricity and water meter readings when you move in and compare them to your first municipal account.
Insure the property for its full replacement value. This includes not only the costs of rebuilding to the same standard but also demolition, fire brigade charges, site clearing, fees of architects, engineers and other consultants, swimming pool, paving, fencing, outbuildings, etc.
Ask the Seller or the agent for details of any warranties or guarantees still in force on fixtures, equipment and any repair work done recently.
Consider changing exterior door locks
Consider installing smoke detectors

 

[zerocool2009]

And take your own municipal readings! Don’t work on their estimates!

 

[Lupus]

Here are some tips from my checklist when I last moved house:

Check where your water shut off valve is located in case you ever have a water leak. Same applies with the electrical distribution board and main power switch.
Arrange internet / fibre connections.
Check that all plugs, showers, taps and toilets are working properly.
Record the electricity and water meter readings when you move in and compare them to your first municipal account.
Insure the property for its full replacement value. This includes not only the costs of rebuilding to the same standard but also demolition, fire brigade charges, site clearing, fees of architects, engineers and other consultants, swimming pool, paving, fencing, outbuildings, etc.
Ask the Seller or the agent for details of any warranties or guarantees still in force on fixtures, equipment and any repair work done recently.
Consider changing exterior door locks
Consider installing smoke detectors

Insurance companies would already insure at replacement value not at the cost you bought it at.
The rest is definitely a good check list.

 

[richjdavies]

Aish... New person in the neighborhood, first thing they do is throw up a 6 wire electric fence and make the neighbourhood look like a prison. Makes you look like a tourist from Joburg
Obviously only you can judge, but theres a reason it doesn't have a fence already... Maybe crime isn't as bad as where you used to live?

Rest of the advice is very sound. Only thing I would add:
- Gutters, drains, irrigation

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

But you still need insurance. What if you braai on your balcony and one night you pass out and the place catches fire?

Building insurance is compulsory in a complex and part of my levy

 

[Sepeng]

Only thing I'd add is, don't wait too long to sort stuff out; constant maintenance, especially with regards to something like painting, damp, will be better than waiting till everything is a mess. Budget to paint the outside every few years.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Agree, painting our complex gets done every 6 years. So glad I don't have to worry about it, but yes it is something that you need to budget for and be strict about it. Don't let it slide cause it will deteriorate very quickly if left