FTB question...

Mrs_b_4

Hi,

I hope you can help. We have been searching for a property for 6 months and finally we have seen a house we really like. We are going back for a 2nd viewing on Saturday and I would really appreciate some advice on what questions we should ask and also what we should look for etc before we actually put an offer in?

Also how do we work out what offer to put in?

We know there is not a chain and we are not in a chain either.

I would really appreciate any advice you may have

cattie

Well things I would ask are as follows
Council tax band?
How old is boiler?
And is it serviced annually?
Have electrics ever been updated?
Water rates or meter and approx cost?
What will be included in sale, ie curtains and rails, cooker etc.
I always ask who lives either side as it gives some indication on who you will be living next to.

I'm sure others will have something to add to this list.

When you look around, if it's really swanky looking, take away all their nice stuff & imagine your own furniture and belongings in it's place. If the decor isn't your cup of tea or kitchen and bathroom are not either, then imagine how you could improve these things to your own taste.

You haven't given an indication of asking price or the area the house is in and what the market is like there, so nobody can really say what region the offer should be in.

Hope the 2nd viewing goes well. A house with no chain sounds perfect!

Mrs_b_4

Thank you for the advice Cattie, I'm really glad I asked the question because I hadn't thought of asking about council tax and water rates etc...

The house is in Hemel Hempstead in the Adeyfield area, asking price is £224,950

Mrs_b_4

Also where can I find information on what other properties on the same road/street have been sold for recently? Thank you

motherofstudents

google sold house prices, zoopla, nethouse prices, rightmove, etc.

Just to add, if you decide to make an offer, knock on the neighbour's door and ask what the neighbourhood is like (you will also get an idea of what they are like),

MsHoarder

And unless houses that you like the look of come up rarely, make a "cheeky" offer. Our first offer (on the house I'm now sat in) was 15% below asking price. We ended up paying 8% below which was the same as a very similar house had sold for 18 months earlier.

Obviously be more cautious if suitable houses are harder for you to find: we had a couple that we were think of putting offers in on so would have been happy for the vendor to give up on us.

Also when you put your offer in mention the benefits of selling it to you, ie that you are a FTB so are also chain free. This may give you the edge if you are bidding against someone who is at the end of a long chain.

Mrs_b_4

Thank you for the replies, I really appreciate the advice.

I think we will definitely be a little cheeky if we decide to offer and see what happens.

I never realised how difficult house buying would be!

Ivana_Tinkle

I'd ask about neighbours and have a good look at the next-door houses and their gardens. I also try to find out why they're moving (in a friendly, chatty way!), how long they've been there and what (if any) work they've done to the house in that time. If relevant, you can ask about parking/schools etc.

dawyldthing

if its empty is it probate? and if it is has it been granted?

Mrs_b_4

I definitely want to go and knock on the neighbours door although I will probably stand behind my husband as he asks the questions!

jee

If they have a garden go and take a look and look at the neighbouring gardens. Look out for broken fences, dumped rubbish/furniture etc this gives you a good idea of the neighbourhood.
I would ask about the neighbours and whether they rent or own properties.