LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST HOME? Here are some tips to help you.
Ensure that you are realistic when working out exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new house. Even a newly built house will require some sort of furnishings, whereas older properties may require extensive work, such as re-flooring, tiling, or renewing the wiring. Make sure that you factor in all these likely expenses in addition to the purchase price, and other fees such as conveyancing and stamp duty
When buying for the first time, there may be a number of details in the houses you are looking at, which you may not pick up. Always take an experienced home buyer, such as one of your parents, or a home-owning friend, when looking at property. If this is difficult to arrange make sure you at least get some assistance once you have selected a property you like, and are arranging a second viewing
If you have been used to living at home with your parents, remember to budget for expenses such as council tax, gas and electricity bills, boiler servicing, and other home repairs. The selling agent should be able to tell you what tax band the house you are interested in buying is in, and how the charges are levied by your local authority
Even if you do not have children, remember that property in the catchment area of good local schools will always be much easier to sell on. However, this may also be reflected in a higher purchase price. If you need advice on ‘sellable’ areas then ask us – we’ve been selling for years!
Always consider how your transport arrangements will change in your new house. If you move from your parents' house with a locked garage to a smaller terraced house with on-street parking your insurance may change. If your car is insured in your parents' name in order to reduce premiums, be prepared for these to be increased when you move into your new property and become the first named driver.
Consider the availability of public transport services, making sure you find out local bus routes and the frequency of train services
Write down a list of local amenities which are important to you. This may include shops, restaurants, pubs, sports centres, parks, and cinemas. If you enjoy activities such as walking, or cycling take a stroll or bike ride around the local area, and note down where the key facilities are
Try, where possible, to find somewhere to live that is close to your main place of work. Commuting can be one of the biggest household expenses, and as you are likely to be spending much more time on domestic chores and/or DIY, living somewhere which minimises your commuting distance will be very important!
