Firt time buyer advice

dozzer

Hi,

I am looking at buying a home and am about to start viewing properties.

Ive had a look at all the online articles saying what to ask or look for but it all sounds basic to me.

Id like some advice i may not see online or may not be immediatley obvious to me as a new buyer.

Is there anything that anyone here in hindsight wishes they knew or asked when looking at new homes that they would be happy to pass on, or is there any specific things that are often overlooked when doing a viewing?

Thanks

skint_chick

What council tax band is the house in (if it doesn't say on the ad)? Why are you moving? (to see if it they still love the house but need another bedroom or have a long commute, rather than the house just needs too much work) Who lives next door? (to try and find out what the neighbours are like without actually asking that)

Try and get a look in the attic/roofspace - bring a torch - and check for any signs of water getting in/daylight/pests. Don't be afraid to ask what happened if there is any unfinished DIY jobs or damp patches. Check the outside of the house to see if there are any damp patches or signs that gutters are leaking. If there's a back garden walk over the patio and see if there's any loose slabs, or any dodgy deck boards.

If there are spaces where they have smaller furniture than you would like - ie you want a 3 seater corner sofa then don't be afraid to measure spaces and make sure doors can still open and people can fit in spaces. In the kitchen check if two people can comfortably move round each other and that when the cooker/dishwasher/fridge is open you can get your dinner out/move round doors. Check kitchen cabinets and drawers are in good condition. If there are any small repair issues or work that needs doing it's better to know before offering, and if there's anything you want the surveyor to pay particular notice to make a note of it.

If there's a drive/garage and you want to use it check your car will fit and you can still open the door/boot, get out without crashing into the neighbour's car. Ask the neighbour about which fence is theirs (and check this with solicitor if you buy that house) to see what condition it's in.

The more houses you actually see the easier it becomes - don't rule things out online because the photos aren't great, or you're not sure about a layout or room size.

Cakeguts

Before you book a viewing go round and look at the house and the area that it is in. If you don't want to live on a main road viewing houses that look nice in the pictures on the website but don't show the main road at the front and the railway line at the back are a waste of everyone's time if that is not what you want to buy.

hazyjo

Only be bothered about what would make you pull out. ie the obvious stuff you might not afford to sort, or things you about change like dodgy neighbours, parking issues, nearby development, etc.

I wish I had more plug sockets. I hardly have any. And the downstairs water pressure and kitchen tap are pathetic. But would it have put me off buying? Nope. So try not to sweat the small stuff.

Bass_9

Work out up front what you can afford based on your deposit, income and projected expenses (being honest to yourself) and don't get seduced by houses that are outside of your budget. Be realistic and break down your affordability for each price bracket. We've calculated this in £10k increments but you may wish to go for smaller or larger increments depending on your budget.

Make a list of essential and desirable features, this could include:
- Area
- Commuting distance
- Freehold or leasehold
- Number of bedrooms
- Terrace/semi/detached
- Views
- Off-road parking and garage
- Gardens
- Size of particular rooms
- Space to extend
- How light and airy the house feels.

Some of that may not be important/relevant to you at all!

I would recommend keeping an open mind and viewing a lot of houses to begin with (they can look very different irl) to give you a better idea of what you can afford and what you want.

If a great property comes up and you love It, go for It! Don't delay for a second viewing because even in slow markets, cracking houses will go very quickly and you can always go for a second viewing later.

It is also a good idea to go and introduce yourself to the estate agents in person. We were having some issues with viewing good houses fast enough (we're in a competitive market) but once we introduced ourselves in person this helped and we now have a reasonable rapport with many of the agents. That came from advice on this website. :T

Questions to ask:
- How long have they lived there
- Why do they want to move
- Have they started looking or found anywhere yet
- What are the neighbours like
- When was it last rewired and have they extended it at all etc.
- Council tax band
- Freehold or leasehold.

Finally, I would recommend getting a survey, and... follow your instincts. Good luck!

P.S. if you find a house you like, check on rightmove when it last sold and for how much. Failing that check how much other houses nearby have recently sold for, considering variations in the condition etc. Is it a fair price, or could someone be out to make a quick buck?

YoungBlueEyes

Could I tag on a similar question?

One thing that comes up from time to time is things that aren't covered in searches/surveys. I think someone said nearby development is something you'd have to specify, and is Japanese knotweed another?

Which issues do you need to ask to be done as an extra?

goodwithsaving

If buying leasehold, find out who the management company is and what the charges are. Also ask what recent works have been undertaken and what may be coming up.
I always take a copy of the floor plan and mark what walls are made of if the property is to need work doing or heavy things hanging up.
What way does the garden face?Is it overlooked? Condition of the windows? Boiler old or new? Fuse box older or newer? Check water pressure in the kitchen. Don't forget to look up at the ceilings. Space for a dishwasher? Space for a tumble dryer?

It's daunting to begin with, but you'll get used to it. Good luck!

hazyjo

As an added extra - don't feel you have to do any of the above on ALL viewings! You'll know very quickly if you're not interested, in which case view and run!

dozzer

Thanks for the replies, all very helpful.

It is a bit daunting so any advice is great.

When a home report is available to seefor a property does this continue same information as a home survey would or wouldn't a survey be best to get one done along side the home report?

ed67812

Use Google Earth before viewing and if you like the house, walk around the area.
Our first garden backed onto a footpath. We didn't really think about that at the time (I'm not sure if we even realised) and we only realised when some loud, drunken idiot was swearing at his mate as they went past the first time we sat out. Luckily that was out the ordinary and the path never caused a problem, but it shows the importance of looking around as well as at the house.

Also, don't rule things out based on the terrible photography skills of some estate agents. We ruled our current house out straight away because it looked small, until I happened to drive past it and think "hmmm that looks much bigger than the photos, perhaps it's worth s look".

jamesperrett

dozzer wrote: »

When a home report is available to seefor a property does this continue same information as a home survey would or wouldn't a survey be best to get one done along side the home report?

Are you in Scotland? Home Reports are standard in Scotland but the buyer normally commissions a survey in England and Wales.