FTB: Budget Advice

MissBailey

Hello,

My boyfriend and I have just started looking at houses and we've got a rough idea of what we can afford but I was wondering if there are any websites I can look at to help estimate what our utilities bills would be? I also have no idea how much home insurance is so any advice on this would be grand! We're looking at 3 bed houses for 140-150k.

Thanks

jamesd

Ask locals. Water rates vary greatly with the most expensive South West water area around five times as expensive as the cheapest areas. Council tax depends on the location but it'll probably be the band C rate for the area. Gas will depend on how well the place is insulated if it's used for heating but start by allowing 1.5 times what you were paying if you were in a flat. Electricity would change less and might be only a little more. rebuilding cost depends on area, perhaps £120,000 as a starting point but that's without allowing for different levels of risk.

Yorkie1

The utility comparison sites allow you to input 'dont know' as a variable for consumption - you input the brief property details and it estimates for you. Rather a blunt tool but it's a start.

Rebuild cost was in my house survey for me, as far as house buildings insurance is concerned.