House Buying - Regrets & Boo-boos

elsien

deannatrois wrote: »

You need access to an air raid shelter?

It's more like a shed and although I don't particularly want to use it, as it's built half on my land and half on theirs, I want to make sure they don't stake a claim by having it permanently padlocked.

RelievedSheff

Saga wrote: »

Surely not everyone has nightmare neighbours?

Probably not. But for us it is 12 years of our life that we didn't really enjoy and that we will never get back and we will not risk that again.

orangecrush

As someone has said already, go big, early! Moving is expensive so start as big as you can comfortably afford. Otherwise with frequent moves you accumulate moving costs that eat into potential equity.



Also I'd never buy anything that needs building work from the outset, but that's mainly because we had a nightmare builder problem.

lees80

orangecrush wrote: »

As someone has said already, go big, early! Moving is expensive so start as big as you can comfortably afford. Otherwise with frequent moves you accumulate moving costs that eat into potential equity.



Also I'd never buy anything that needs building work from the outset, but that's mainly because we had a nightmare builder problem.

Agree with this. Generally easier to come down in size if you need to, than it will be to go up. Start as big as you can comfortably afford.

Saga

Davesnave wrote: »

Regrets? I've had a few, but there again, too few to mention.


If I'd my time again, I'd not buy a doer-upper on a pension!

Treat me like an idiot, why not? If, for example, you had a final salary pension would it be so bad?

yorkie18

I definitely agree with the go-big early comments, it can be too stressful to keep doing it!

I also wish we had got a 'proper' survey on our first property and not been fooled into thinking the valuation was enough to go by.

Saga

yorkie18 wrote: »

I definitely agree with the go-big early comments, it can be too stressful to keep doing it!

I also wish we had got a 'proper' survey on our first property and not been fooled into thinking the valuation was enough to go by.

Structural or Home Buyer's?

CarbonImage

Learn about bad practices and mistakes others make!

I nearly bought the first flat I viewed, knowing nothing, using the estate agent's solicitors and mortgage advisors. It was only when they asked for an additional 10% deposit at point of exchange I stopped to think. Dodged a bullet there!

Purple Bricks - would avoid houses marketed by them or at least have a frank chat with the vendor about their seriousness about selling. So much time wasted.

Don't trust the vendor on anything. I'm sure some are very honest but ours wasn't. He was nice enough to our faces and on the phone but his actions were devious and he outright lied to us about a lot of things.

Skiddaw1

Do your research when you find somewhere you like. Think about all the cons as well as the pros. It's so easy to get blinded by the 'I want to live here!' factor. It's hard to be objective but you really have to be.

foxy-stoat

Only one I can think of is believing the BS that the Estate Agent has told you.