Offer accepted, now what?

Ready2move

Hi Guys

You have been my font of knowledge over the past few months concerning selling, buying etc etc. So I was hoping you may be able to give me some more advice on what to do.

My girlfriend and I accepted an offer on our property yesterday (this is the first time we have ever sold a place) and having come off the phone to the EA I thought maybe I should have asked him some more questions. I was quite shocked that an offer cam through an hour after the first people to see it so I think that’s why I couldn’t think of what to ask.

Anyway I am going to give him a call tomorrow morning and ask some questions. Any ideas of what I should ask?

Also, I guess now it is time to start looking. We have done so on the internet and will now arrange viewings. I have seen some nice properties in an area we would like to live. Though the range in price is anywhere between 30k from the cheapest to the highest valued. I am curious how estate agents will treat me for example if we view all these houses but decide on going for the cheapest one, will EA's be more inclined to push me to pay full asking as they know we can afford to pay this much as we have viewed houses valued higher?

I suppose i'm just asking for tips as well on the whole house buying process.

Hope all of the above makes sense, and may thanks for any help and advice that you put forward.

Doozergirl

I really hope you got asking price if you took the first offer from the first viewer! You need to check the position of the people buying (ie. FTB, SSTC) and really, you need the EA to see evidence of a mortgage aceptance in principle before you accept an offer as lots of failed sales can come through. Yiou also need to call your solicitor tomorrow to start the ball rolling with contracts and sending you the forms to fill in. Selling is much less complicated the buying, it's mostly fending off questions etc.

EAs are not really that bothered which house you buy. They don't really get that involved. Some of the London EAs are paid commission directly on the sale price. The same sort of London EAs tend to accompany viewings and take viewers to see a selection of properties, so when doing this, they may choose the upper end of the buying scale. Ultimately, they want a sale and there's no point pushing you to buy something you don't like.

In my area, it's much more relaxed, vendors tend to do the viewings unless the house is empty and the agent just chases for your feedback.

Just go and see what you like, see as many as you can to work out what constitutes 'value for money', get yourself a mortgage accepted in priniciple and see what takes your fancy!