Collaborative Post
If you’re in the market for a new home and you want to buy one instead of renting, one thing you’ll soon discover is that there are plenty of choices available. You could buy a flat in the middle of a city centre, or a sprawling home out in the countryside.
You may even want to buy a small cottage near the coast with breathtaking views of the sea. Whatever you want to buy, you need to make sure that your property purchase is the right choice. Typically, with any property transaction, there are a few parties involved who will be working for you. They are estate agents, conveyancing solicitors in Stockport, mortgage brokers, etc. With that in mind, you need to avoid these common house-hunting mistakes:
1. Falling in Love With the First House
Did you know that many people make the mistake of putting an offer in for the first house they go to view? Buying a property is a significant investment and a long-term purchase, so the place you buy has to tick all the boxes, so to speak.
2. Not Looking at New Build Display Homes
If you have your heart set on a brand new house, you’ve undoubtedly spotted a few new builds in your local area. The thing is, looking at blueprints on paper or online is one thing, but seeing the finished article is another. Be sure to view display homes first before deciding.
3. Forgetting to Organise a Mortgage
Cash buyers can skip this step, but if you’re like most people and need to borrow the money to buy a house, you need to arrange a mortgage. With that in mind, make sure you organise a mortgage first before you go and look at homes for sale so you know your budget.
4. Not Considering a Joint Mortgage
Whether you’re married or have lived with your significant other for a long time, it’s always worth considering a joint mortgage with them. Doing so can give you more property options and even provide better mortgage deals with lower interest rates.
5. Not Getting A Proper Survey Done
One of the conditions of most mortgage offers is that the property they finance is physically stable and isn’t subject to any landowner issues or problems like subsidence. The trouble is, some surveys aren’t very good and don’t flag up all the potential issues in a house.
6. Not Researching the Local Area
Let’s face it: the last thing you want to do is buy a stunning house in the middle of an area plagued by crime or other issues. That’s why you should always do your due diligence when looking at homes to buy. Carry out a lot of online and offline research into the areas you like.
7. Not Thinking About the Future
Are you planning to start a family soon? If so, you want to make sure you look at properties close to good schools and near to local amenities. Don’t choose a home out in the sticks with no transport links, and where the nearest school could be an hour’s drive away!
Remember these seven steps and you could soon be moving into your new dream home.
