“If you are purchasing a freehold property, ensure that you are fully aware of the location of the boundaries of the stand, and that you know exactly where the servitudes are (if any),” says Ronald Ennik, an executive director of Leapfrog Property Group.
 
Not having this information could be costly,” he adds.
 
“Take, for instance, the normally joyful experience of building a pool. It could turn into an emotional and financial nightmare if your pool contractor excavates through your front lawn and discovers, a metre below surface, a municipal drain or plumbing servitude that you didn’t know was there.
 
“Another wise move when buying a house is to ask for a copy of the plans – which will indicate quite clearly where the servitudes are,” says Ronald.
 
“It is also useful to check the zoning plans of your local town or metro council. This will enable you to establish beforehand whether or not the house you wish to buy is in an area – close to, say, a Gautrain station or commercial hub – that is earmarked for increased density.
 
“If it is, you could face the prospect of sectional title and cluster developments springing up around you at some later stage,” he concludes.