First time buyer viewing flat help!

Dragon18007_2

Hi

My sister is a first time buyer and has seen a flat that she likes, we are going to view it on wednesday but since we have never done this before, what kind of things do we ask and would they know what the neighbours are like and any anti social behavious etc?

We had a look in the door of the stairwell and it isnt in the best of condition so i take it they will advise who upkeeps it??

anything you can think I should ask then please let me know.

Oh and i've also seen on some estate agents site something called stamp duty?? what is this?

thanks

edgex

stamp duty
its tax on property sales, currently only those >£175k


has she had a copy of the particulars from the agent, & a copy of the HIP?

arrive early, 15mins or so, & have a walk round the whole block. go back in the evening & see what its like then.
take some extra pictures, even with just a camera phone, youve then got something to look at a 2nd time.

be detached:
dont walk in & go 'oh havnt they decorated it well'
your not interested in the decor, unless its completely unliveable with

assuming the current occupiers arnt there, or its empty, have a good look at everything
open every door, walk around all the rooms
how does it feel, ie is the heating off & your cold(?)

the agents call it a viewing, but treat it as an inspection:
check around the windows
check condition in the bathroom & kitchen
if theres a balcony, what can you get on it, is it overlooked etc
find the party-walls (the ones to the neighbours) & see what theyre made of (just tap them & youll soon work it out)


info youll need from the agent:
service charge
length of lease remaining
how good are the managing agents
residents association?
parking (allocated or not)

david29dpo

As above and do check the past years maintenance charges (if any) These can be the biggest problem with flats.

m_13

Everything else plus ask if any major works are planned for the block. If they are, is there a sinking or maintenance fund that is going to pay for it or will they expect all owners to make a contribution. It's not unheard of for people to be stung with a big bill to contribute towards a new roof or exterior painting and find it's the reason the last person sold!

How much of the block is empty? What's the balance between owners and tenants?

If the parking is allocated check where the space is for the flat. Is it miles away? If the parking is unallocated are there problems with parking? Is the car park full of people who are shopping nearby?

Stand in the bathroom for a second and see if you can hear noise from the soil pipe as flats above use facilities. This can be very noisy and drive you mad! If the flat is near the main door then listen to see if you can hear it banging shut.

Is there an entry 'phone to get access? Are the names updated? The buzzer working?

Has the flat door got a main lock with a british standard kitemark on it:

The numbers can vary between deadlocks and mortice locks but most insurers will want either BS3621 on a five lever mortice lock (the sort that has a long key) or BS8621 on a cylinder deadlock (the sort that takes a 'yale' key). All windows at first floor or lower or that are next to fire exits need to have key locks.

It's an exciting time! Make lots of notes as you view otherwise it will all become a blur as soon as you see another one. Don't buy the first thing you see!

Richard_Webster

nfo youll need from the agent:
service charge
length of lease remaining
how good are the managing agents
residents association?
parking (allocated or not)

Sensible questions - but regrettably the agents don't usually know the answers to these points and they only come out when the solcitors get the legal stuff.

If the sellers are there try to ask them (not the agent) why they are selling. If they are vague they may be hiding something. Are they buying anything else? Have they found anything? What are they looking to buy? Does this sound realistic or are they on a cloud cuckoo search for the ideal property at a knock down price that they will never find - and therefore they will never complete the sale to you!

Knock on doors of other flats saying you are interested in possibly buying this flat and what's it like in the block. You may or may not get sensible or helpful answers but (a) you may get some more information to enable you to ask intelligent questions, and (b) you might find the attitude of the neighbours puts you off to start with!

Dragon18007_2

Hi

Thanks for the advice, the flat is a repossession so its empty, its a middle flat so it will be the neighbours up and down stairs she would have to bother about as the one at the other side has the stairwell between them.

caesar howie are selling it, would they know if work needed to get done to the roof etc like M-13 said? or if any kind of work was geting planned?

and david said about last years maintenance charge? is this like a factor for the upkeep of the stairwell ??

I feel ill about all this!

JJ

maz_student

Richard_Webster wrote: »

Sensible questions - but regrettably the agents don't usually know the answers to these points and they only come out when the solcitors get the legal stuff.

If the sellers are there try to ask them (not the agent) why they are selling. If they are vague they may be hiding something. Are they buying anything else? Have they found anything? What are they looking to buy? Does this sound realistic or are they on a cloud cuckoo search for the ideal property at a knock down price that they will never find - and therefore they will never complete the sale to you!

Knock on doors of other flats saying you are interested in possibly buying this flat and what's it like in the block. You may or may not get sensible or helpful answers but (a) you may get some more information to enable you to ask intelligent questions, and (b) you might find the attitude of the neighbours puts you off to start with!

:T Excellent idea!! :T
I've never thought of this before