What to look out for

With so much development going on in Dubai, it can be difficult to spot the good projects from the bad, so below are some more top tips to help make sure you do not buy a property that was built on the cheap.

Carefully examine the property’s walls and floors for physical imperfections, such as wonky tiling Pay particular attention to the quality of finishes and the thickness of work surfaces Count the plug sockets in each room, especially the kitchen, which should have at least six. Many Dubai kitchens have three plugs or fewer Examine the front door. A good one will be solid and 65 millimetres thick, while some developers will try to get away with a hollow 45mm door Consider the property’s layout. Are there any unusual shaped rooms that would be difficult to place furniture or appliances into?

Try to find out where the wiring is from. European wiring is superior, but don’t be surprised to discover a cheap Chinese alternative has been used. It could be useful to ask an electrician to look for problems such as burned wiring, overfused circuits and improper wiring connections Examine the door and window seals, because your home will be plagued by dust if these are inadequate Tree roots can cause damage to foundations, so check to see if there are any large ones nearby If you are considering a home that has already been lived in, ask the seller probing questions, such as why they are selling, how long they have lived there and what problems they have had with the property Noise can also be a major issue, especially in apartments, so ask the seller about neighbours Look for large cracks in walls, crooked doors and an uneven roof line, because these could be signs of subsidence Examine the light switches. The plastic clip-on ones with the exposed screws are the cheapest and may indicate that other fixtures are of a similar low quality

With so much development going on in Dubai, it can be difficult to spot the good projects from the bad, so below are some more top tips to help make sure you do not buy a property that was built on the cheap. Carefully examine the property’s walls and floors for physical imperfections, such as wonky tiling Pay particular attention to the quality of finishes and the thickness of work surfaces Count the plug sockets in each room, especially the kitchen, which should have at least six. Many Dubai kitchens have three plugs or fewer Examine the front door. A good one will be solid and 65 millimetres thick, while some developers will try to get away with a hollow 45mm door Consider the property’s layout. Are there any unusual shaped rooms that would be difficult to place furniture or appliances into? Try to find out where the wiring is from. European wiring is superior, but don’t be surprised to discover a cheap Chinese alternative has been used. It could be useful to ask an electrician to look for problems such as burned wiring, overfused circuits and improper wiring connections Examine the door and window seals, because your home will be plagued by dust if these are inadequate Tree roots can cause damage to foundations, so check to see if there are any large ones nearby If you are considering a home that has already been lived in, ask the seller probing questions, such as why they are selling, how long they have lived there and what problems they have had with the property Noise can also be a major issue, especially in apartments, so ask the seller about neighbours Look for large cracks in walls, crooked doors and an uneven roof line, because these could be signs of subsidence Examine the light switches. The plastic clip-on ones with the exposed screws are the cheapest and may indicate that other fixtures are of a similar low quality.

Source: Emiratetodayonline