Bought a Cheap House in Japan...But Something Was Very Wrong

Buying a house online without seeing it in person, can come with risks. Today we will visit Helen's house. She bought this vacant, abandonded house (Akiya) in Japan without viewing the property before purchase. I was shocked by what I saw behind the walls. In this video, we will find some damage to the house and talk about some options for Helen to try and resolve the issues here in Japan.

If you are new to the channel, my name is Chani and I am a middle aged Australia who was stuck in a rut and moved to Japan to live. I bought an Akiya or empty house and started renovating. I'd love it if you joined the community.

☕️ Thanks for all your support of the channel, I really appreciate it so much. If you would like to help me continue to make videos and support my ability to keep the channel going, here is the link:

I look forward to seeing you in the next video 😀

@ChaniJapan

#buyhousejapan #akiya #abandonded #renovation #japan

[susanma]

Japan is a very wet and humid country. Mold and moisture damage is VERY common. If I were buying an akiya, I would just go ahead and assume there was water damage and get professionals in asap.

[rsmith]

Strip all the vinyl wallpaper as it's potentially contributing to wall rot by blocking moisture and it's covering up the true condition of the walls anyway. Have a carpenter replace the subfloor and check the rest of the house. Consider adding a concrete foundation with plastic to stop vapor from entering the crawl space and insulating the floor while you're at it.

[debbie]

Her front garden is really nice. I can see why she chose the house. I hope she is able to resolve the issues and she still feels it was a good purchase for her.

[fc]

i bought my house in Kyoto prefecture sight unseen. But the agent provided a video and I opted to get an inspection done on the house before I signed the contract. The inspection report is very thorough. This allowed me to make an informed decision subsequently on renovations later on too.

[janinesheedy]

Helen please don’t lose heart!
I’m sure the builder can help and even if it’s expensive just think of the huge home you have compared to Hong Kong!
Also it’s so much cheaper even with a repair

[MissiBoo]

I hope that everything turns out well for Helen. My house (unfortunately, not in Japan) needed a tremendous amount of work done on it. It took time (and a lot of money) but it all worked out well in the end. At least with Japanese builders, you will be overjoyed with the workmanship. Best wishes. P.S. I hope Miss Millie is well 😊

[gorgeousjoanna]

Helen, I can see why you chose that house--what a lovely garden! When you fall in love with a place, the adventure to make it your own becomes part of its charm. I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck!

[海原宗太郎]

I am Japanese.
In Japan, cheap and old houses have many defects like this. That's why most Japanese people don't buy them.
And it is absolutely unthinkable for a Japanese person to buy a house without seeing it in person.
Recently, vacant houses in Japan have been attracting the attention of foreigners because they are cheap, but you need to be careful as there are many pitfalls like this.
If you really want to buy a house in Japan, I recommend one that is less than 30 years old.
Also, be sure to check for leaks. If you need to do major repairs, the roof alone can cost several million yen.

[BethDoublekickChick]

Such a REAL video as the interest from foreigners buying and renovating akiyas grows and grows 👌
Also, I don't usually comment so much about a person's appearance, but I must say, Chani, I love what you've done with your hair and you're absolutely glowing 🥰

[PlusSelfcareJourney]

Hi again, Chani, I’m right behind you in getting my akiya (although ahead of you in age) 💕 I hope to finally meet you next time I return to Japan. I love your sharing and really appreciate the older woman perspective - Tokyo was so different in April as a 50+ woman vs when I was in my 20s 😢😂❤

[Msherazade]

Hang in there Helen. A builder can fix a lot of these deeper problems. Enjoy the great location, beautiful gardens and most of all the peaceful japanese culture.

[SharleaneBailey-bk]

Congratulations on your new home Helen. I will be thinking of you and hope you get the help you need to make it the home of your dreams. I’m glad you have a friend to help you out with getting help. God’s blessings to you both.

[lizawithaz]

If Helen would be willling, I'd love to see a follow up with her home renovations. Until then I wish her all the best fixing he lovely home up.

[Marta-rm]

All the best for Helen. Thanks Chani for another great video. 🇦🇺☺️

[HL-ssmd]

please do a part 2, hope she get her house fix!

[smilingjacks]

Watching this video about a month after it was first posted. Hope you've been able to make some progress now Helen, even if a little. The gardens do look beautiful. Hopefully in time this will all be worth it. Looking forward to a Part 2 video in time. All the very best ❤

[kersen]

Thanks for helping and also for showing us things to look for

[mant]

キッチンの床下を覗くなんて、プロみたい！


床だけじゃなく、窓も原因
25年前の家は、アルミの窓なので結露が出ます。

[le_th_]

Helen seems lovely. I'm so sorry she is having these issues, and I hope she can get them resolved and begin to enjoy her life there. The garden is lovely, and I can see why she was drawn to the home. Best wishes, Helen!!

[JeffMendoza]

Helen is lucky to have a great friend in Chani to help with finding a builder!