Buying A Property

What to look out for when buying a house…

On an initial inspection, try not to treat the house as a home but simply as
a building that needs inspecting

Even in a fast-moving market, it’s a bad idea to buy unseen. The more often
you view a house, the more likely you are to spot potential problems before you move in.

View the property three or four times, at different times of day, to find out
what it’s really like.

Be wary of damp, check as thoroughly as you can and keep your nose open as
damp can give off a musty smell even if you don’t see physical signs.

If you do spot faults, you shouldn’t necessarily be put off buying but at
least you know you should get a professional opinion and use this to renegotiate price.

Spend 15 to 30 minutes looking around the property and then at least half an
hour walking around the general area.

Find out what the area is like at rush hour, when the pubs close, at weekends
and on a weekday.  Try to drive to and from the property to work or school during rush hour to
check your commute.

People often think they’ve had a proper survey when they’ve simply had a
mortgage valuation. They haven’t. This is for the benefit of the mortgage provider, not you, and
you should get the proper survey done, if you seel it is necessary.