First time buyer questions... don't laugh!

emilysexton89

Hi all,

I am moving into my new (and first) house on the 5th of April, and I just have some questions which may on the face of it may seem trivial but I honestly don't know the answer to them.

1) As far as Council Tax is concerned, does the council know a new property has been bought, and they send information through the post as to how to pay it? I had a look at the Glasgow City Council website but it appears I need an account number to be able to do anything.

2) For internet, I would preferably like it to be available on day one. I know the current occupiers are with Virgin Media. Can I contact virgin media before the move in date so that my line is available straight away?

3) Regarding utilities, do I just stick with the same provider that the current occupier has? Can anyone please talk me through the process of how they know who's bill is who?

4) There is a Factor involved to whom I will be paying around £40 towards to cover the building insurance. Similarly to the council tax question, will they send me a letter after moving in regarding how to pay this?

5) I have unfortunately overspent on the deposit more so than I would have liked. I need to buy a lot of basics including Sofa, Bed, and white goods for the kitchen. I have exchanged contacts already. Am I okay therefore to use credit to organise the delivery of such items for the day after I move in, or am I best to wait until after I have moved in to buy them with credit cards?

Any tips on the very basics of moving into a first home would be appreciated.

Thank you x

chunkytfg

emilysexton89 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am moving into my new (and first) house on the 5th of April, and I just have some questions which may on the face of it may seem trivial but I honestly don't know the answer to them.

1) As far as Council Tax is concerned, does the council know a new property has been bought, and they send information through the post as to how to pay it? I had a look at the Glasgow City Council website but it appears I need an account number to be able to do anything.

Ring the Council tax office and let them know when you move in and they will set you up an account and let you know how much it is. It normally takes a while for the bill to come though so make a rough guesstimate how much it is each month and put it aside each month till you can pay it.

2) For internet, I would preferably like it to be available on day one. I know the current occupiers are with Virgin Media. Can I contact virgin media before the move in date so that my line is available straight away?

Speak to virgin media. they can probably set you up an account and get it connected but it relies on the old owners having disconnected. Could you get a cheap 3 mobile sim to tether to for the first month till its sorted

3) Regarding utilities, do I just stick with the same provider that the current occupier has? Can anyone please talk me through the process of how they know who's bill is who?

When you move in take meter readings and then ring the old utility providers. they will set you up a new account and take those meter readings for you to start paying from.

4) There is a Factor involved to whom I will be paying around £40 towards to cover the building insurance. Similarly to the council tax question, will they send me a letter after moving in regarding how to pay this?

Management company I assume you mean? If so then yes they will send you a letter i'd guess. again like the council tax put the money aside and then when they ask for it you have it already

5) I have unfortunately overspent on the deposit more so than I would have liked. I need to buy a lot of basics including Sofa, Bed, and white goods for the kitchen. I have exchanged contacts already. Am I okay therefore to use credit to organise the delivery of such items for the day after I move in, or am I best to wait until after I have moved in to buy them with credit cards?

If it is existing credit cards then you wont have new credit checks on your account to cause problems however you will most likely be checked again from the mortgage lender before they release the funds so not spending the money before you complete would probably be the wisest choice

Any tips on the very basics of moving into a first home would be appreciated.

Thank you x

See the red:T:T

AnotherJoe

Please don't be one of those buyersthat's starts messing with the occupants services before you move in. We've even seen people here reporting their services have been terminated because the buyer intending to buy their place cancelled the service, especially telephone/internet.
Regarding gas electric water, take readings (and take photos of meters) when you move in. Then contact current suppliers and let them know details. Ask your vendors who their services are from. If you can't do that then choose new ones and they will help sort it

00ec25

there are many websites that explain what you need to know, use google. Here is one of them to get you started

http://www.thefirsttimebuyer.co.uk/what-do-you-need-to-do-after-you-have-completed-your-move/

Grumpelstiltskin

Regarding furniture etc. You do not NEED a sofa advertised on TV at ridiculous % interest, Be very savvy and look around for as many secondhand items as you can and pay cash.


You will find being a homeowner more expensive than you thought so if you have over extended yourself with the deposit don't get yourself into more debt.

davidmcn

emilysexton89 wrote: »

1) As far as Council Tax is concerned, does the council know a new property has been bought, and they send information through the post as to how to pay it? I had a look at the Glasgow City Council website but it appears I need an account number to be able to do anything.

No you don't, follow this link and choose the option depending on whether or not you already pay council tax in Glasgow. The council won't "know" a new property has been bought unless someone tells them, though the sellers should also be contacting the council.

emilysexton89 wrote: »

There is a Factor involved

chunkytfg wrote: »

Management company I assume you mean?

Yes, they're usually called factors in Scotland.

emilysexton89 wrote: »

will they send me a letter after moving in regarding how to pay this?

Yes, the sellers' solicitor will give them details of the sale, so I'd expect some sort of introductory letter/bill to arrive shortly after you move in.

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Regarding gas electric water, take readings (and take photos of meters) when you move in.

No privatised water or separate bills for it in Scotland, it's added onto the council tax.

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Ask your vendors who their services are from.

It's one of the questions on the seller's questionnaire in the Home Report, so should be able to get the info from there.

greenbee

With the utilities, you'll need to set up an account with the existing supplier initially, and then look around for better deals. If you're not sure how much you'll be using, then either see whether the vendors will give you an idea of their average usage OR see what the best deal is with the current suppliers and go with that for the first year while you work out your usage and focus on other stuff

As far as furniture goes, have a look on freegle/freecycle/facebook. As friends and family whether they have anything going spare. I spent my first couple of nights in my first home on a camp bed until friends delivered their old bed (they used my move as an excuse to upgrade!). All my curtains came from family so I had something to cover windows with for when I moved in - not all to my taste but they worked (I still have some of them - and they've been used by other family members when they've moved). When I moved here we flattened moving boxes and used them to make cardboard 'shutters'. Moving boxes also make great bedside tables I've even found stuff at my local tip.

When you move in you need minimal stuff - that way you can give the place a really good clean and have a proper think about what you really want once you are in the space. Don't rush into spending money on stuff that may or may not be right - particularly when you don't know what your bills will be or what other unexpected expenses will come up in the first few months of living there.

As long as you have somewhere to sleep, somewhere to wash and something to sit on, you can take your time with the rest.

dirtycredit

Regarding utilities, do I just stick with the same provider that the current occupier has? Can anyone please talk me through the process of how they know who's bill is who?

When you move in take meter readings and then ring the old utility providers. they will set you up a new account and take those meter readings for you to start paying from

Hiya,

I would advise against this. deffo take meter readings but research cheap energy deals before you sign up with anyone because if you want to change many companies charge you a cancellation fee. It doesn't take long if you use a comparison website.

This is a great page to read for advice about how you sort energy supply when you move house. http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/moving-house-gas-electricity-guide/


Good luck with your new house!

DC x

davidmcn

dirtycredit wrote: »

I would advise against this. deffo take meter readings but research cheap energy deals before you sign up with anyone because if you want to change many companies charge you a cancellation fee.

But at day one you can't avoid having a contract with the existing suppliers - you can only give them notice that you want to switch after you've moved in.

StumpyPumpy

Not directly connected to your questions, but have a look at https://www.iammoving.com/ for a useful and free service for notifying lots of organisations about changes of address.

SP

glennevis

As davidmcn says, the existing supplier will put you on Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) which has no exit fee but is not the cheapest tariff. Choose your own supplier and tariff as soon as you have set up your account, it should take 3-4 weeks to change supplier.