Probate bungalow viewing, first time buyer.

Kim83

Hi everyone, 

We are viewing a property on Monday and it has been 'granted probate'. I'm not too sure on this subject, but it comes with no chain. 

We are generally looking at bungalows and a lot of these are probate properties, due to the type of house. We are looking at bungalows as I have a mobility issue which seems to be worsening and we are both 41. My idea is we are future proofing our home. 

Please could you give me an idea of questions to ask, things to check and possibly some tips especially for probate and bungalows. 

Many thanks.

youth_leader

I've no idea about the probate, but if a member of the family isshowing you around I would be sensitive to their recent loss.   When my husband died I had to sell, and if I had to do a viewing I found some of the questions offensive and felt I had to defend our home.  

I do recommend looking at the advice on viewings on  Phil Spencer's web site Moveiq. I bought this bungalow after one viewing during lockdown and did not ask the 'right questions' - it cost me £20K and a lot of disturbance.  Every floor was rotten.  

Good luck. 

swingaloo

If probate has been granted then nothing should hold up the sale. You need to make sure you get a decent survey done just as with any property. 
Bungalows are in short supply so hopefully it will suit you and be in a decent condition. 

Brie

Bungalows are favoured by the elderly and those with mobility issues. 

Some may already be set up exactly as you need it but do be sure to check really basic things.  

You didn't say exactly how mobile you are (or not) so look at things in stages.

If you can't easily to stairs - is there any rooms you would need to access upstairs (our bungalow is on 2 levels)?  How easy is it to get in and out of the place?  Steps, door frames, grip rails?  Are the doors sheltered so you can stand there, get out your keys, unlock, put keys away, get through the door all without getting soaked if it's raining?

Is the approach to the place on level ground or a steep slope?

Do you use a walker of any sort?  How wide is that compared to the door frames?  If you have to get up a step or two are the steps wide enough for the walker.

If you have a wheelchair (even occasionally) are the doors wide enough to get through easily.  How about the halls - either with or without furniture.

Bathroom - walk in shower or tub?  with or without hand rails?  What about the toilet? 

Are the taps in kitchen and bathroom easy to maneuver?  Kitchen cupboards easy to open, preferably soft close.

Back garden?  Accessible?  Is there a deck or more steps?  

These are just a few thoughts based on us moving into a large bungalow with my MiL who became increasingly less mobile.  She was a bit frustrated that she couldn't go in the garden.  We even had great problems getting her wheelchair over the door frames to get in or out of any of the doors.  (moveable ramps are the answer!).  We got rid of a lovely 1930s original huge bathtub so she could have a walk in shower.  But even a walk in shower isn't intended to have 2 people in it - her and her carer - which has caused us a few issues with water leaks.  There are scrapes on the walls in the hall way and on door frames where she knocked into them with her walker and later we knocked with her chair.   

Hope it goes well - it's an exciting thing moving but there's always a few surprises along the way!!!

Keep_pedalling

I would expect the executors would be keen to see a quick sale, and if they have probate there is not much to hold it up.

badmemory

If you are concerned about the "probate granted" it probably says this because the original advert said "probate pending".  Granted is a good thing in this case.

dinosaur66

i live in a town where half the propertys are bungalows / has large retired population

i have bought a few probate bungalows - it is not different than buying any other property with exception the property is empty.

do not be put of by the word PROBATE 

 

never met a family member ever of the deceased / your viewings are conducted by an estate agent .

they are normally clean but dated / dont be put off by that if you have friends who can do basic painting and decorating /gardening /

do the viewing first / dont be pressured by anything the estate agent says whatsoever .

if you like it and the area and in your network of people know someone who is a builder/handyman /good diy man ask would they go with you on a second viewing and do an assement for you

roof/soffits/facias/guttering and windows and front door -you want UPVC and not wood / check boiler and radiators to get an idea how old it is/ 20 years old despite what people say about lifespan still usually work with no trouble.

radiators/ if kitchen carcases are ok / just change the kickboards and doors and pelmets and worktops/sink and taps / its not dear so dont be put off .

bathroom will be important to you so as long as it is 8 by 7 should be fine / i have seen some very small bathrooms in bungalows though and lots and lots of galley kitchens in 1 and 2 beds

view as many as you can to get a good idea what would be your ideal for your situation / both being disbaled / no slopes in the garden and as low maintence as possible

MysteryMe

Remember that it is very unlikely that the Executors would have lived in the property so don't expect them to be able to give many meaningful answers to questions.

dinosaur66

Keep_pedalling said:

I would expect the executors would be keen to see a quick sale, and if they have probate there is not much to hold it up.

14 weeks on all te ones i have bought but

Kim83 said:

Hi everyone, 

We are viewing a property on Monday and it has been 'granted probate'. I'm not too sure on this subject, but it comes with no chain. 

We are generally looking at bungalows and a lot of these are probate properties, due to the type of house. We are looking at bungalows as I have a mobility issue which seems to be worsening and we are both 41. My idea is we are future proofing our home. 

Please could you give me an idea of questions to ask, things to check and possibly some tips especially for probate and bungalows. 

Many thanks.

tips

forget about the word probate -  the conveyencing goes through as any other property would nothing to be concerened about

get there an hour early and drive round the neighberhood to get a feel for the area

ask what is the EPC  -you want a D which is average and is 55% of all uk propertys E OR F in your situation leave it.

turn the boiler on and take a photo of it on your phone so you can look it up when you get home and ask advice

personally i do not buy propertys that slope down away from the road they are on due to possible flooding issues check the camber of the road

wooden windows /front door/soffits/facias in most probate bungalows have to be changed to upvc -budget 5k 

 if it has UPVC ALL OVER bonus

you can easily change the colour of the door and windows in the summer / there is outdoor paint that works briliantly on upvc windows and doors in variety of colours .

DO NOT LISTEN TO PATTER OF ESTATE AGENT -giving you hardsell / ignore them and keep looking .

if you like it ask for a second viewing and bring an expeirenced tradesman of nearly any description that you have in your circle of friends / plumber/boiler engineer/kitchen bathroom fitter/general builder-handyman/roofer/ they will all know there way round a property and will know what to look for and them to rough cost it for you

in your situation you do not want a strip out property just spruce up of kitchen / do not worry about old tiles in kitchen - i cover them with spashbacks straight over the top / box in boilers with ugly pipework with same splashbacks -i have tiled over tiles in bathroom as well its cheaper and never saw anyone who new

advantage of a bungalow is roof condition/chimney stack/flashing/loft /guttering/insulation  is all easy to check in person

i live in a bungalow- and have bought probate bungalows to flip (buy do up and sell ) and have some that i currently rent out

fluffymuffy

My top tip for bungalows -

I would not buy one where the loft has been converted to living space. The roof will be impossible to inspect and is unlikely to have enough insulation. And flat roof dormer windows too for the same reason.

youth_leader

Something I hadn't expected when I moved into this double glazed bungalow was the severe condensation in the winter - I'd come from a single glazed house and was used to it. 

Do check the windows have vents, and if the chimney has been capped, there could/should be a grille.  I found the condensation unbearable and invested in a positive ventilation unit in the loft, it  I now get about 5 cm of condensation around the bottom of the bedroom window.  Also ask the keys to the windows are available - mine weren't - I had to have every handle on each window changed.  This place wasn't maintained at all.