Viewing a house tomorrow, HELP!!

BigBoy

BigBoy

BigBoy

Soldato
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
6,902
Location
Bath
Hi guys,

The Lady and I are viewing our first house tomorrow and as we are first time buyers with very little experience we would like your help, if you would be so kind.

The property is this one what should we be looking out for what sort of questions should we be asking?

I know the general area and have a lot of work colleagues that live around there and they all say its a nice spot.

Can any one help us please?

Thanks in advance

Ian
 
It looks well maintained from the pictures. Just ask basic stuff like how old boiler is, when was the roof last done, has it ever been re-wired, when was the conservatory added and by whom? Also keep an eye out for damp patches on the ground floor ceilings and at the bottom of the front and rear walls. When was the double glazing fitted, do you get to keep the greenhouse, is the kitchen fitted for a gas cooker?

The EPC is pretty low as well so factor in some insulation costs which may also need further venting to the loft space.

Just bought this place - http://www.romans.co.uk/Property/51282/

Loads of negotiation due to a few minor problems.
 
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This is just an assumption from not seeing it mentioned in the property details and from the gas fire in the front room, but I would assume that there is an old school back boiler fitted which, if it became uneconomical to repair, could be very costly to replace. So, I would be querying the heating system heavily.
In picture 1 (front view) there appears to be staining to the right of the front door, below the front room window and on the wall below the roofline at the right edge...if it is just dirt then fair enough, but I would be having a good look at that, and if possible the corresponding internal areas (although it is relatively easy to hide such things temporarily inside)
 
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Radiators upstairs though. Sellers might be old and like extra heat.

The property also benefits from gas central heating,
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No onward chain which reinforces that fact as the sellers might be going to a home (or deceased).
 
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Yeah had noticed the grey patches on the stone work and assumed it to be from old plant growth, will get a better look tomorrow. There is also damp on the side of the conservatory could just be from a leaky down pipe, will investigate.

The back boiler is a certain, and I'm prepared for that as I noticed the void on the floor plan with the cupboard on the floor above. I too noticed the oil filled radiator in the living room. And all the other radiators look brand new!

Apparently the couple that own it have already bought a place out right and there for no chain. The estate agents won't be there as the the vendor that's showing the property.
 
I know that area very well, will ask my sister for to post her comments, as she live in Sheridan road a few years as ago..

Any particular reason for the Twerton area, not one of the better areas of Bath.

You got 'Trust' enabled?
 
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Hold off or put in a silly low bid, house prices havent bottomed out yet and no point going in with a generous bid if you can get it for less (and not risk negative equity).
We bought 10 years ago and our house price more than doubled and is almost back to what we paid at the time. Way back then we didnt get it at its cheapest either and regret the offer we put in (was slightly lower than asking but we could have went another 5k less I think. I would urge others not to do the same.
 
malfunkshun said:
hmm missed that. Gas fire, no radiator listed...negotiate :)
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Better than that, the sunroom appears to open out into midair, with no steps leading out the back of the house at all, so no potential way to escape a fire. They have hidden the doors with a large sofa so you can't easily fall to your doom.

See if those doors still open. See what the green metal looking thing is down below the doors, access to a coal bunker, or similar?

The sunroom roof looks to be plastic sheeting, have a check around that see whats it is made of.
 
BigBoy said:
I live and work in Bath and Twerton is one of the only places within the city that's in our price range :(
Trust is enabled :)
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If you bought that house, you would lose money if you sold it at a later date, I'm speaking from experience.

It will most likely need the roof refelting, full central heating installed, & probably due a rewire, if the present owner hasn't had it done.

'Somer Housing Trust', were going to do it quite a few years ago, but it was put on hold, our last place & the present place was due for refelting, rewire, that was three years ago, & no date has been given as to when it will be done.

Trust sent.
 
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doing the work is no big issue and there is no way in hell I would pay the asking price! Luckily the family are builders/tradesmen and we have on tap experience of the local area. ;)
 
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