FTB questions

arbrighton

robedha1 wrote: »

The last time it was sold was 1998 according to Zoopla. I'm taking a guess that the current owners haven't changed much since then.

Hmmm, it appears to be vacant and everything in there looks new/ freshly done to me.

While a lot of this advice is good, I'd say that things like looking in the loft/ tapping plaster etc would be best left for a second viewing.
The first is usually to get an impression of a place (and often a short slot swiftly followed by other viewers). It might put a vendor off if they have no idea whether or not you are really interested or just having a nosey (people do)

Based on this advice, we'd probably not have bought out our house: uneven plaster, creaking stairs, bouncy floorboards, ancient consumer unit and boiler, ageing soffits/ facias, ancient Edwardian septic tank, I could go on. However, there are some things about it that are hard to beat in terms of it being a unique period property, and its location.

grifferz

arbrighton wrote: »

Based on this advice, we'd probably not have bought out our house: uneven plaster, creaking stairs, bouncy floorboards, ancient consumer unit and boiler, ageing soffits/ facias, ancient Edwardian septic tank, I could go on. However, there are some things about it that are hard to beat in terms of it being a unique period property, and its location.

None of that would necessarily put me off, it would just inform me. Even if the most important thing to me was a period property in a great location, I'd still like to at least have a hint about the other things.

arbrighton

We had a fair idea as we'd looked in detail, on second viewing, and had a full survey done.
Didn't find the leaky outbuilding though- always visit in the rain!

robedha1

Well, I had a viewing today. The house is massive for the money and I really liked it. However, the agent said that it will need a complete rewire which has put me off a bit. Any one know how much something like that will cost? I don't have much saved up, enough for a deposit and fees. Would the rewiring be something that needed doing straight away?

grifferz

robedha1 wrote: »

Well, I had a viewing today. The house is massive for the money and I really liked it. However, the agent said that it will need a complete rewire which has put me off a bit.

I wouldn't say this is definitely cause to be put off. This sounds like estate agent speak for "we're expecting lower offers".

Any one know how much something like that will cost? I don't have much saved up, enough for a deposit and fees. Would the rewiring be something that needed doing straight away?

Sorry I don't know. Maybe it would be worth asking the agent to clarify if the work needed is extensive enough that it would be a requirement of the lender for it to be done before they would release funds.

Also you could ask if the vendor has ever got a quote for that work. You could not entirely trust that quote since it would come from the vendor, but it would give you an idea of what work needs to be done and a ballpark figure.

robedha1

The vendors have gone back to Italy and their daughter is dealing with the EA so I don't know how much info I'll be able to get from her. Worth a try though.

hethmar

Just one point though - if you dont have a lot of savings, you may find that your mortgagees wont accept a house that needs a lot of repairs which you cant afford to do.

My goodness, you couldnt buy a garage for that price round here But it doesnt look like you have a garden or parking?

Mozzanov

Something like that isn't cheap, mate, it can turn out very expensive depending upon how much needs doing, how easy it is to access the wiring, etc. It's really one of the first things that needs doing, too. Could be one of the reasons it's so cheap.

robedha1

hethmar wrote: »

Just one point though - if you dont have a lot of savings, you may find that your mortgagees wont accept a house that needs a lot of repairs which you cant afford to do.

That's what I was thinking. I'm just hoping I find something within my budget as I am currently renting and have very little disposable income to save up. Hence why I want to buy, it's a lot cheaper than renting around here.

My goodness, you couldnt buy a garage for that price round here But it doesnt look like you have a garden or parking?

I don't need a garden, not the green fingered type. There's a small yard which could work as off the street parking if a larger gate was put in.

robedha1

Mozzanov wrote: »

Something like that isn't cheap, mate, it can turn out very expensive depending upon how much needs doing, how easy it is to access the wiring, etc. It's really one of the first things that needs doing, too. Could be one of the reasons it's so cheap.

The outside walls are stone and the inside is decorated with plaster. The EA suggested that it would be quite a big job to do.