First time buyer, basic advice, finding a property.

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@James-may I know how you feel, I was in similar position saved for years to get the deposit saved then when it comes to finally being in a position to buy the market goes crazy. 

I'm now on my way to purchasing a place I really like! You will get there, just got to persevere and use some of the good tips in this thread. It's stressful and annoying, but keep at it and I'm sure you will manage to get a place eventually! 

James-may

And then it gets better 😂
Have a aip from NatWest.
Found a place I really liked, ideal for me, just over budget, spoke to the couple selling, very nice people, came back for a second viewing, they dropped a little so was within my budget.
Agreed a price, sent confirmation to ea with proof of deposit and aip, started getting onto solicitors with my details to start the ball rolling.
Phoned NatWest to proceed.
Declined!
Knew it was too good to be true.
They can't say why only that computer says no.
It's either a dro I had 6 years odd ago that isn't on my credit file anymore, a few payday loans I had just over 2 years ago, or one ISP bill that I apparently missed 4 years ago that I knew nothing about til I ran a credit report recently.
Whatever it was, I'm back to the broker I was originally going to use, hopefully they can find me a deal.
Gutted I didn't get approved right away, strange how I passed aip, but the pre check soft search NatWest did declined me.
I'm gutted it fell through, but I'm feeling bad I might be messing around the nice old couple I'm buying from and who have now stopped viewings.
I can't understand why the aip can't use the same search criteria the second stage used, it would save a lot of messing around.
Thought I was being smart doing it myself😂.
Think I'll be sticking to the broker now😱

musehead

Slithery said:

James-may said:

Well I registered with most if my local EA, and followed them all on Facebook.

You need to put more effort in, they likely have hundreds of people on their books.

The idea is to be one of the first few people that they think of when they know that they have a new property coming onto the market. Ring them 2 or 3 times a week to ask if there's anything new, keep popping into the office if possible, let them know how keen you are, book viewings even if you already know that the property isn't suitable etc etc.

The idea is to be just on the right side of annoying them so you are always forefront in their mind. All of the properties that I've bought in the past I've offered on and been accepted before they hit the open market.

Depending on where you are, it may not be a very realistic strategy. In my part of London there are at least 10 EAs that regularly sell properties locally, there's no specific locally dominant one. You'd have to make it a full time job to engage them all so closely! 

And even then, the property you want might be sold by another agent that wasn't on your radar.

James-may

musehead said:

Slithery said:

James-may said:

Well I registered with most if my local EA, and followed them all on Facebook.

You need to put more effort in, they likely have hundreds of people on their books.

The idea is to be one of the first few people that they think of when they know that they have a new property coming onto the market. Ring them 2 or 3 times a week to ask if there's anything new, keep popping into the office if possible, let them know how keen you are, book viewings even if you already know that the property isn't suitable etc etc.

The idea is to be just on the right side of annoying them so you are always forefront in their mind. All of the properties that I've bought in the past I've offered on and been accepted before they hit the open market.

Depending on where you are, it may not be a very realistic strategy. In my part of London there are at least 10 EAs that regularly sell properties locally, there's no specific locally dominant one. You'd have to make it a full time job to engage them all so closely! 

And even then, the property you want might be sold by another agent that wasn't on your radar.

Yeah I'm pretty much doing what I can, I work nearly 50 hrs per week, and most places won't let you in the door without an appointment.
However, we have had an offer accepted.
Now waiting/praying on the brokers aip going through after NatWest declined after agreeing aip initially.

Sunsaru

James-may said:

musehead said:

Slithery said:

James-may said:

Well I registered with most if my local EA, and followed them all on Facebook.

You need to put more effort in, they likely have hundreds of people on their books.

The idea is to be one of the first few people that they think of when they know that they have a new property coming onto the market. Ring them 2 or 3 times a week to ask if there's anything new, keep popping into the office if possible, let them know how keen you are, book viewings even if you already know that the property isn't suitable etc etc.

The idea is to be just on the right side of annoying them so you are always forefront in their mind. All of the properties that I've bought in the past I've offered on and been accepted before they hit the open market.

Depending on where you are, it may not be a very realistic strategy. In my part of London there are at least 10 EAs that regularly sell properties locally, there's no specific locally dominant one. You'd have to make it a full time job to engage them all so closely! 

And even then, the property you want might be sold by another agent that wasn't on your radar.

Yeah I'm pretty much doing what I can, I work nearly 50 hrs per week, and most places won't let you in the door without an appointment.
However, we have had an offer accepted.
Now waiting/praying on the brokers aip going through after NatWest declined after agreeing aip initially.

Crossing my bits for you

James-may

Sunsaru said:

James-may said:

musehead said:

Slithery said:

James-may said:

Well I registered with most if my local EA, and followed them all on Facebook.

You need to put more effort in, they likely have hundreds of people on their books.

The idea is to be one of the first few people that they think of when they know that they have a new property coming onto the market. Ring them 2 or 3 times a week to ask if there's anything new, keep popping into the office if possible, let them know how keen you are, book viewings even if you already know that the property isn't suitable etc etc.

The idea is to be just on the right side of annoying them so you are always forefront in their mind. All of the properties that I've bought in the past I've offered on and been accepted before they hit the open market.

Depending on where you are, it may not be a very realistic strategy. In my part of London there are at least 10 EAs that regularly sell properties locally, there's no specific locally dominant one. You'd have to make it a full time job to engage them all so closely! 

And even then, the property you want might be sold by another agent that wasn't on your radar.

Yeah I'm pretty much doing what I can, I work nearly 50 hrs per week, and most places won't let you in the door without an appointment.
However, we have had an offer accepted.
Now waiting/praying on the brokers aip going through after NatWest declined after agreeing aip initially.

Crossing my bits for you

Thanks, hope it all goes through, don't want to rent the rest of my life.