First Time Buyer - any tips?

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Howdy :)

I'm currently looking to buy my first house with the missus, and we're off for a viewing on Sunday.. but what should I be looking out for? Can you recommend any questions that I should ask the current owner?

At the moment I've just grabbed a list of the houses that are within my price range, have a decent sized garden, are in areas I like, and don't look like they'd require hideous amounts of work, but this is a new world of responsibilty, so I need to make sure I don't miss anything out when I look around them!

Cheers for any tips :)
 
Always find out if they have crap neighbours.
You can redecorate a kitchen but you can't do much about neighbours from hell.
 
I would ask them what the area is like and how the neighbours are.

In terms of what to look for - well it's down to preference really. Generally the size/layout of the rooms is important.
 
Just remember that estate agents are all lying gits and that home-owners, especially in this climate, aren't likely to tell the whole truth either.

I agree that you should check out the neighbours and possibly even visit the area at night. If you put in an offer, make sure you get a full survey done as most houses have hidden-horrors that you or I wouldn't notice.

Also, the whole process takes far longer that you would expect. I hope that you're a patient person. :)

I assume that you've got a mortgage agreed in principle already? That tends to speed things up a bit.
 
In the bathroom, check the celing(sp?) for mauld growing on there, I am not sure how much you can do when viewing a house, but if possible, check how sound proof are walls connecting to other houses nearby (asusming they are connected), see if the floorboards do not feel stable in places.

Window ceels(sp?), is the paint coming off in places. What state the carpet is in, ie a new one or old worn out. It may be an indicator of how much more work you will have to do afterwards. Check out the garden if there is one, any sheds there.

I would say note anything that looks damaged or worn out. If owners agree, ask if you can take a few pictures for your reference as you are viewing multiple properties, even if you are not. They are better then memory, maybe take some measurements if possible so you can for instance plan what you want to have where in the main rooms. After all you are looking for a house for yourself, not what someone else left you.

After viewing, have a walk around the area, if you see some people, talk to them, ask about the area. Where nearset places like tesco/take aways, which are good, what the chav infestation is like around the place. That sort of stuff, if you start with "what sort of area this is" they will probably go alright, so start with better opener.
 
they say that people make up their minds about a house within the first few seconds ..

first impressions and gut feeling are very important, but these are probablly based on seeing a lot of other houses so you know what you dont like as much as what you do like.

you already will know what kind of size you will need and whats important to you.. ie garden, garage, storage, nice kitchen.

or if you want something that needs work or something ready to move it to.

try to see as many properties as you can, get your mortgage arranged in advance so that when you find the one you want you can be ready to move quickly

dont worry too much about going over and over a house as you will have a survey to tell you these things and you can always go back for a second or even third viewing (even after you have had your offered accepted)
 
Walk round the area at diffrent times, especially evening and goto the local pubs. Pretty good way of seeing what the area is like.

You can also look on http://www.upmystreet.com/ to find crime levels, population make up ect.

Look out for expensive work. Like boilers, roofs ect. new gas laws. means old boilers will probably mean all he pipe work in the house needs ripping out and redoing if you have to change the boiler.
 
gut feeling is important - but also don't show that you're really interested in the property, in the sense that you fawn all over it and beg them to sell it to you! play it cool and when you get to the stage of making the offer, make a really low first one (it always gets rejected according to our FA - and did on all 3 we made an offer on).

i would say that if you are looking at somewhere that requires "a lot of work" make sure you estimate (and realise) exactly what that commitment means, and your own skill in making it happen. if it is extensive work you can wave goodbye to a significant amount of your time - if you are ok with that then go for it. also be aware of the cost.

i guess this is all a bit further down the line, but if you are moving/buying because of a job then remember it can change, and if it does you don't want to find yourself having to move again (we got away with it to a certain degree due to it all falling through).

edit: 1 more thing, i'd say that at this stage you're probably going to rule more out than you rule in. arrange second viewings for those that you're interested in, so you can compare them to the good and bad that you've seen.

also, check which way it faces so you know where the sun will be a different times of the day. important for gardens and stuff.
 
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Looks like you are in the same boat as me at the moment UV!

Have you gone to a mortgage broker and found out how much you can borrow? How long did you take to find that house that you are doing a viewing on or is this the first serious one you are interested in?

I have all this coming in the next few months really! I have deposit money, just saving for some for fee's and a few K for when we have moved and need furniture, etc :)
 
You will know when you've found the right one, it just feels right as soon as you walk up the drive and in the front door. After that get a survey done just to be on the safe side.
 
Be prepared for the most stressful experience ever. As others have said, if you like the place then visit the area at different times/days.

Take pictures. Trust me, you'll forget what the house looks like after a few weeks of haggling with estate agents/solicitors...
 
Cheers for the comments so dar chaps :)

Knubje said:
Have you gone to a mortgage broker and found out how much you can borrow? How long did you take to find that house that you are doing a viewing on or is this the first serious one you are interested in?
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We already have an agreed mortgage 'in principle', and the one we're looking at is a lot less than our maximum, which is nice!

I've been looking on Rightmove/PropertyFinder for the past year now, and we've been in talks with both our FA and a mortgage advisor. I've been waiting until the market feels 'right', and I think it's now time to take the plunge!

I'm seriously interested in ~8, and although this first one is the smallest, it's also a new build so won't require any work doing :)
 
You will paying a huge financial penalty if you are not willing to do any work and instead simply plump for a new build. You are buying your first property, it is a place to live for a while until such time that you can afford your second property. Do you really feel that a huge financial penalty now while you are young is the best way to get started on your ladder upwards?
 
Buy a house that you think you will be able to sell later on. The chances of you staying in your first bought home are slim.
 
Jez said:
You will paying a huge financial penalty if you are not willing to do any work and instead simply plump for a new build.
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I've nothing against buying a house that needs upto ~£15k of maintenance..
It's just coincidence that the house is new, I usually hate Mews style properties. I like buildings with age and character :)
 
Jez said:
You will paying a huge financial penalty if you are not willing to do any work and instead simply plump for a new build. You are buying your first property, it is a place to live for a while until such time that you can afford your second property. Do you really feel that a huge financial penalty now while you are young is the best way to get started on your ladder upwards?
Click to expand...

i'm not sure I agree - you may be able to get a cheaper house that needs work but how much will that work cost? unless the work you need to do is superficial, or you have excellent contacts in the building trade, it is quite likely that any extensive work will cost you as much as the differential in price between a property in "good" condition and one that needs work. you are just as likely these days to get a really good deal on a new build as you are on other properties.

i do agree about the buying the house to live in though, those property programs have a lot to answer for.
 
nin9abadga said:
i'm not sure I agree - you may be able to get a cheaper house that needs work but how much will that work cost? unless the work you need to do is superficial, or you have excellent contacts in the building trade, it is quite likely that any extensive work will cost you as much as the differential in price between a property in "good" condition and one that needs work. you are just as likely these days to get a really good deal on a new build as you are on other properties.

i do agree about the buying the house to live in though, those property programs have a lot to answer for.
Click to expand...
relative resale value is likely to be different between a new house and an old house that needs some work, even taking into account the balancing out of price by the cost of work.
 
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