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advice for buying property if i cant be there in person

sach55
sach55 Posts: 6 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
im looking for advice for buying a property which i wont be able to view in person. im currently based in france and its impractical to be in the uk for viewings etc. are there any ways to minimize or mitigate the risks of buying a dodgy property if i cant be there in person. also what would be involved from start to finish considering i cant be there, how easy would it be to deal with solicitors and surveyors and all the legal stuff. on my side i will be buying cash. any advice appreciated.

Comments

  • gettingtheresometime
    gettingtheresometime Posts: 6,911 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    I wouldn't buy any house if I hadn't seen it in person.

    Can you not rent first?
  • HampshireH
    HampshireH Posts: 5,033 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Can you not do a 2 day stop over and book up viewings for the trip?

    House buying is one of the biggest if not the biggest purchase a person can make. A little effort to view is in my mind essential.

    Aside of that you need someone you 100% trust to do it for you. Someone you can remain trusting if it goes wrong.

    Why take the risk. France isn't that far away and transport links are good.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    From a legal perspective you'll need to verify your ID for a conveyancer to act for you. You may find one willing /able to do this electronically but most will want to see you in person, at least once.


    It may be possible to get your ID verified by a French lawyer who would then satisfy your UK conveyancer of your ID.


    So far as the conveyancing is concerned, either you could give your conveyancer POA to act on your behalf, or all documents requiring signitures would have to be posted/couriered to/fro.


    A lot of the routine stuff could be emailed.


    As for finding/checking the property, well you can pay peope to find properties meeting your requirements, though most people would want to view themselves. Having said that, these days interior/exterior video footage could be ontained at a price, google street view will show you the street and environs, as well as Google earth.


    A surveyor can check the condition of the property.
  • Waterlily24
    Waterlily24 Posts: 1,328 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    gettingtheresometime wrote: »
    I wouldn't buy any house if I hadn't seen it in person.

    Can you not rent first?

    Same here.
  • m0bov
    m0bov Posts: 2,785 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You should ask your self, "Would I SELL to someone who hasn't viewed it?".
  • societys_child
    societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    im currently based in france and its impractical to be in the uk for viewings etc
    Why? There's the chunnel, or ferrys offer none stop 24 hours a day crossings. It's only about 20 miles, some even swim it . . :)
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    societys_child wrote: »
    Why? There's the chunnel, or ferrys offer none stop 24 hours a day crossings. It's only about 20 miles, some even swim it . . :)
    and others pay people smugglers to supply them with high-speed motorboats, yachts, or rubber dinghies......
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,649 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 22 September 2018 at 9:50PM
    societys_child wrote: »
    Why? There's the chunnel, or ferrys offer none stop 24 hours a day crossings. It's only about 20 miles, some even swim it . . :)

    Well they try to.

    Not all are successful.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 19,475 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    societys_child wrote: »
    It's only about 20 miles, some even swim it . . :)

    Imagine, there you are, swimming for all you're worth, when only a mile from Dover, your mobile starts ringing and it's the estate agent telling you the house you're coming to view has just been sold subject to contract!
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
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