Finding your first home

Owning a home is a dream for many people and if your circumstances make it a reality, it can be very exciting. However, there are things you can do to ensure your get the right property for you and avoid the problems that can arise when buying your first home.

First time buyer? If you’re not sure how to start your journey onto the property ladder, the below information should help.

Prior to arranging any property viewings, you should consider these factors below…

First on the list is to know much you are willing to spend, get in touch with a mortgage advisor and work out a budget before contacting an estate agent. Not only will you know what your budget is, but when it comes to making an offer – you’ll be a credible buyer.

Once you know how much, think about what you need and where you want to live, as well as what your new home needs to have. Like, the number of bedrooms you need, how close to work or family you need to be, or what the outdoor space and parking are like. Remember you are buying your first home, and probably not your forever home, so you can be a little flexible on your requirements.  

Once you know what type of property you want, you’ll need to start looking for properties that are suitable to view. Before you book viewings for the properties you like, there are certain things you can do to make a shortlist of the best properties – this will save you some time.  

Have a drive and walk around your chosen area to see whether you like it and can picture yourself living there. Is the area up and coming and maintained? Look into the history and reputation and the neighbourhood itself – are things changing in the future?

Also, how close are the amenities? Is the traffic and parking okay? What are the schools and transport links like? Things like these will boost your property’s value, whether or not they are on your list of requirements.

If this is the first time you have viewed a property, you might be a little nervous. These tips should help you understand how best to approach viewings.  

When you arrive at the property, look at the roof, windows and walls to make sure they are in good condition. Make sure you note down anything you feel isn’t quite right. When the survey is conducted, you can bring these points up to the surveyor so they can investigate, and report back any findings – potentially saving you thousands down the line in repairs.  

Now for the inside! Try to look past the décor and things that may not be to your liking – these things can be easily changed. You need to look at the space itself. It the property spacious enough and will your furniture fit? What are the lighting points, power sockets and fittings like and are there enough? Test the light switches and make sure the wiring is sound. Check the kitchen appliances, the radiators, boiler, shower and any electrical items.

When it comes to the main building make sure all the doors and windows are in a good state of repair. Also, damp can be a problem in any property, check for condensation, damp patches or a musty odour.

After the viewing, look at your original requirements and see if the property matches up. You should try to have multiple viewings of any properties you are seriously interested in.

When you’ve found the property best suited to your needs, tell you agent you’d like to make an offer and they will assist with this. You will need a conveyancer and to also contact your mortgage company, so they know you are ready to proceed.

Once the offer is accepted, you will need to find a local Chartered Surveyor and commission a survey. Although this is not compulsory it is advised as it will give you the information needed to make an intelligent purchase decision. Your agent should be able to fully advise you on the surveying process.

When the final price is agreed, it’s both parties’ legal teams who get the conveyancing under way. There is no set amount of time it takes for contracts to be agreed and signed, it can be weeks or months. Stay in contact with your solicitor on a regular basis and deal with any requests promptly, this should avoid delays. Remember, either party can change their minds until exchange of contracts is complete.

We hope you enjoyed our blog.  

If you are a first-time buyer, you can view our current property listings here.