FINDING THE RIGHT PROPERTY

One of the key stages of buying a house is the viewing. However, it is not always easy to know how to prepare for this, what to look for, what questions to ask and how to ensure you have the full picture.

Here are some tips that you might find helpful and a checklist of things to look for and questions to ask about the property and its location. Before you go to view a house, try to do as much background research as you can on the property and the area so that you do not waste time seeing something that does not meet your needs.

When you are ready to view, if you can, take someone else with you, preferably someone with different tastes who may spot things that you miss.

Make sure you view the property during the day when you will be able to see better and spot problems.

If you really like a property try to arrange to view it again at a different time of the day to give you a different perspective. You don’t even have to arrange a viewing, just drive up and park near by, at different times and days of the week, so you can just listen. Does your potential new neighbour rev a motorbike? Have noisy parties every weekend? Etc.

Do your homework; one couple bought a house during the main seven-week school holiday so didn’t realise that when the children were at school it was complete bedlam outside their house from 8.30 – 9.00 and 3.30- 4.00 each day. If they had known they would never have purchased the property in the first place.

Remember that it’s your money you are spending so don’t be afraid to ask direct and blunt questions about the property. Take your time, be nosy and don’t be pressurised by the estate agent or seller (vendor) into making an offer.

Try not to view too many properties in one day,  as it’s difficult to remember which house was which.

Things to look out for inside the house and questions to ask:

• does the property need updating - if so, how much will this cost
• is the property in a conservation area or a listed building and could this restrict any future alterations
• are the rooms big enough for your needs - furniture etc
• what is included in the sale - land, garage, furniture, fittings, etc
• are the views good enough
• what is the cost of Council Tax and the average costs of other utility? bills such as electricity, gas, water
• why are the sellers moving
• does the house have full central heating? If so, how old is it
• how is the water heated? Combination boiler or tank, etc
• have there been any problems with the boiler; when was it last serviced by a Corgi engineer
• if there is a loft, has this been insulated? If so, how long ago
• does the property have cavity wall insulation
• has the property been altered in any way and if so are the relevant planning and building control consents available to inspect
• is there any sign of subsidence (e.g. major cracks in the walls or the doors sticking)
• is there a smell of damp or any other sign such as the walls feeling damp, the wallpaper peeling/paint bubbling, watermarks or mould
• do the window frames have cracking paint? (If you can press your finger easily into the wood it’s rotten
• has the room recently been decorated, if so, why (a problem might lie underneath)
• how much storage space is there
• are there sufficient power points, how old do they look
• and most importantly, does it feel like it could be your home?

A good survey will answer a lot of these questions but surveys cost money, so try and find out prior to wasting your time and money.

Mortgage Enquiry Form

Remortgage Enquiry Form