buying

meglan

Afternoon everyone!!!!!

Myself and my husband are wanting to buy property next year. it will be our first and i know nothing about the property game!
i dont want to find out through estate agents cos im scared they will just talk and talk to get us to buy through them.
also having spoken to a few friends, everyone always says different stuff....im so confused.

when looking to buy and get on the property ladder, where the hell do you start? and who is the best person to talk to???

:j

lilrowan

I am in the same position! I don't know where to start as such, but https://www.rightmove.co.uk shows all the houses for sale in the area according to what price you want and how many bedrooms etc, regardless of the estate agent they are being sold through. That way you can just look at home without all the salesman stuff and hundreds of different websites.

skintchick

Go and visit all the estate agents who cover the area you want to buy in, and tell them your budget so they can send you details.

It is worth knowing them - my house wasn't being advertised by my EA's dodgy boss cos he wanted to buy it himself to rent out, but my EA told me about it and I got it! If I'd relied on internet-based searches I would never have known about my house. Sadly my EA then got sacked for having told me about the house, but that's another story.

You need to know your budget, and that will be dificult at this point - 12 months early. I'd suggest you don't worry about it until you are actually ready to buy.

HGLTsuperstar

Being scared of EA is not the attitude to have. Yes they will try and sell their wares to you, that's their job, but you need to stand firm on what you want, and what you're prepared to pay. Use the web by all means, but the fact remains that most property is on the market through an EA, so the vendor is contracted to put all offers through them so you better get used to them.

scope

skintchick wrote:

Go and visit all the estate agents who cover the area you want to buy in, and tell them your budget so they can send you details.

If estate agents in Swindon are anything to go by I wouldnt bother registering for details.. I have gone to all the estate agents in Swindon, and over the past 4-5 months I have had 3-4 letters, despite hundreds of houses matching my requirements.

Your best bet is keeping an eye on https://www.rightmove.co.uk, it seems to have just about everything available, and it saves you being hassled by estate agents calling you every week asking if you are still looking.

socks_uk

If you already know the area you want to be in, and live close enough to it, have a drive round. Spot boards up in streets you'd like to live in.

This is what I did and then checked to details on the EAs websites. Doing this eliminated a lot of houses in streets I know I don't want to live in/near.

Jill

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi Meglan,

How about deciding what your budget is ie what mortgage you and your husband can get and what you can afford to pay back on a monthly basis. ie talk to your bank other building societies get a idea of the range you can borrow / repay.

Once you have your budget range.

Decide what is important to you is it the location e.g near schools or town centre or family, how many bedrooms is essential, is a garden more important than a garage, is size more important than location etc etc. You may need to compromise in some areas. ie smaller property in a better area or vice versa a bigger property in a worse area.

Between you and your husband draw up a list of essential things a property must have for you to consider it and then draw up a second list of not essential things but desirable things you would like.


Then go out an start viewing properties to see if you can get the essential things you want in a property for the budget you have. I would look at websites, like right move,your local paper and local estate agents.

Get an idea of whats out there in your range and compare. Don't offer the first thing you see, see at least 10 plus.

Get a 2nd opinionon any property you are intrested in from some one who has bought before e.g mum / dad, family friend.

There is no rush, take your time and only offer if you are happy with the property and happy with the price and it has all the things on your essential list.

Just a few ideas.

Good Luck.

Best things in life are free.