Firt time buyer advice

M2808

I was interested in a house the other day so went and drove past it. The drive on the front turned out to not have a dropped curb and slap bang outside the house was a bus stop (no chance of getting a dropped curb either then). I also thought I wouldn't like people loitering and possibly putting rubbish in my garden. Also thinking about future saleability...
Saw all I needed to without wasting anyones time.

jimbo747

Do some dummy car insurance quotes for that area first. If it increases its probably a dive. There is a govt website that lets you check crime numbers in that Street and surrounding roads. The house can always be improved, but if you move to area surrounded by low lives you're stuck.

FTBuyerGlasgow

Take someone with you, an extra set of eyes is very useful.

We viewed a house, liked it and then arranged a 2nd viewing, FIL noticed some damp behind a radiator (wallpaper was peeling away) and some weird looking vents in the floor.

dozzer

jamesperrett wrote: »

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

Yes I'm in Scotland. I assume the house buying process has some slight variations south of the border?

AndyB_B98

Do some financial checks early - check car insurance, and home/contents insurance.
Are you looking at specific broadband / tv deals? Check you can get them. Im in the process of buying, wanted Virgin Media but not sure if I can get it. Ill do deeper checks when the sale is complete.

timefortea

I'm a FTB too, and have seen the advice to ask how long ago it was last rewired, and how old the boiler is, elsewhere. What would be a good answer to those questions? I have no idea how often a house would normally be rewired, or how old a boiler has to be before it's considered a bit ropey.

Gwendo40

Prior to even viewing a house do some research into recent comparable sold prices.

I know it sounds blindingly obvious and almost a bit patronising but I'm sure there are plenty of inexperienced FTBers out there who simply don't do this... and there are DEFINITELY plenty of greedy vendors with kite flying asking prices out there, presumably hoping that some naive FTBer will come along and meet their asking price without realising how overpriced it is.

Nebulous2

dozzer wrote: »

Yes I'm in Scotland. I assume the house buying process has some slight variations south of the border?

Read the home report. Check anything it tells you to check. If it says the full extent of the garden needs to be checked make sure you do! (I'm in the process of buying a house where the sellers don't own the area they use as a garden)

I'm looking for older properties and willing to take on a house in need of updating, but not one needing structural repairs. So I've ruled out anything with substantial damp. If the report says they recommend a retention for timber repairs I haven't even viewed it.

RubyHouse

Trust your instincts, you will know when you find the one (as cheesy as it sounds) We viewed so many houses any didn't love any of them - although we really liked some but not enough to put an offer in.

I reluctantly agreed to view a house over our budget that had just come on the market, pictures showed it needed work and had been occupied by the same couple that bought it when it was built in the 1950s. We both knew immediately that it was the one for us when we walked in the door. We put in an offer straight away and after some negotiations managed to get the house within budget and taken off the market.

Best of luck!

ReadingTim

• Can I see myself living here?
• Can I afford it?

The rest is mere detail.