We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
50 House Buying Tricks guide discussion
Options
Comments
-
Help!
I am in the process of buying my first house and we have had an offer accepted. Now I would like to make sure there are no surprises in store for me. The house is only 35 ish years old, built by a major and well known construction company and we are buying it expecting we will have to redecorate immediately so I suspect its pretty low risk compared to some purchases. But it has been extended twice. But I have no information for these.
I have contacted surveyers and been amazed by how little information they say they will provide. Also most of them have said they wont let buyers accompany them, some fobbed it off saying it was part of their insurance in case they miss things. What will a home owners survey actually check? Do most people rely on this survey to tell them everything about the house?
Thanks0 -
Look on the RICS website for a guide to what their members provide for the various levels of surveys.
If you've had an offer accepted in E&W, then there seems little you can do to avoid 'surprises'. Even the OFT states in their online guidance that an offer constitutes no formal or legal agreement between buyer and seller, only something that 'provides the potential for a future agreement'.
And while we're on geographic matters, some parts of the guide, as well as the timeline included therein, are only appropriate to E&W, and different rules, procedures and background apply to Scottish sales and purchases.0 -
Help!
I am in the process of buying my first house and we have had an offer accepted. Now I would like to make sure there are no surprises in store for me. The house is only 35 ish years old, built by a major and well known construction company and we are buying it expecting we will have to redecorate immediately so I suspect its pretty low risk compared to some purchases. But it has been extended twice. But I have no information for these.
I have contacted surveyers and been amazed by how little information they say they will provide. Also most of them have said they wont let buyers accompany them, some fobbed it off saying it was part of their insurance in case they miss things. What will a home owners survey actually check? Do most people rely on this survey to tell them everything about the house?
Thanks
You should also get information about the extensions from the local Planning Authority, you can see the plans, ensure it was given permission and also signed off.0 -
jwed's post marked as spam.0
-
Why the hell do you need a guide to buy a house? It is really simple:
Work out what you can afford => decide what you want based on this => use common sense when dealing with everyone through the process => Welcome to your new home!
This sub industry based around people who believe tv shows and articles help them when purchasing homes is cringeworthy.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
One tip that Martin hasn't mentioned is the use of a homefinder or buying agent, like Phil and Kirstie on Location Location Location, we used one to find our new home in the Peak District, they did all of the work and saved us a load of money through their negotiations. I know I can't advertise companies, but just enter "Homefinders" and "Peak District" in a search engine
<snip>jwed's post marked as spam.
This is really quite amusing...
If you google the terms suggested by jwed2000, you find a company called "Homefinders Plus Ltd".
If you do a director check on that company, you find a director named JAMES WILLIAM EDWARD D*******.
(For details see: http://www.companydirectorcheck.com/james-william-edward-drakeford)
Now wait a minute... that makes the director's initials jwed.
But surely nobody could be that daft - spamming using their real initials as a username! So it must just be a coincidence.
(Or if they were that daft, I certainly wouldn't want to retain them as a buying agent!)0 -
Rumbled, but just trying to get out there that there is such a service, which maybe Martin & his team could have mentioned. And Walcott, you may have found it easy, but those with little time, knowledge of an area, or maybe physically unable to search will use a buying agent such as ours, it isn't just the finding, feel free to read the website.
Apologies all.0 -
Buying a home can be massively stressful even if it's something you are really keen to do.
And if it's something you're being pressured into doing (eg moving because of work relocation) then I can see why a home finder is a good idea, especially if you're new to the area.
If you're working full time (and you can afford it!), it makes sense to have someone do a lot of the initial leg work for you, to give you time to do actual viewings in your free time, rather than just trawling round estate agents (in the flesh or online!)
I've never used one (and don't think I ever would), but I can see their merits.0 -
My strategy was: Open up RM, see what's for sale and which is least offensive looking .... phone up the agent... go and browse round it in a hurry. Say "I'll have it", then buy it.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards