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England, Wales & NI » Process in
Scotland
Viewing the property
It is a good idea to look
at a range of properties, even if you are unsure whether you will
buy them, just to get an idea of what is available and what is good
value for money. That way, when you come across a property that
you really like, you will be much more confident in knowing it's
the right one for you.
When viewing a property, don't be afraid
to ask essential questions.
When you're excited about looking around
a potential new home, it's very easy to forget what important things
to look for.
Here are some tips
when viewing:
» If
you see a property you like, try to see it more than once before
making an offer - especially at different times of the day or in
the evening. A quiet street on a Saturday afternoon may have a lot
of weekday rush-hour traffic.
» If you are buying alone, try to view with
a friend/relative - they may notice things you have overlooked.
» If you are looking at a lot of properties,
it can become difficult to remember which ones you liked and why.
Make notes as you go listing the pros and cons of each. You will
be able to rationalise these later.
» Look closely at fixtures and fittings,
check appliances and taps, are there any obvious signs of damp?
Some problems are easy to fix, whilst others could be quite expensive.
If you are concerned get a builder/plumber/electrician/damp specialist
in to look at the property too (If the seller has nothing to hide,
they won't mind!)
» Always enquire about service charges/ground
rent/council tax etc.
» Find out why the property is for sale and
how long it has been on the market for.
» Find out what the seller's timescale is
for moving. A short time scale may help your bargaining position
» Establish if the sellers are in a chain.
» Establish what is included in the sale
e.g. carpets, curtains, oven, washing machine
» Advise the seller that you are a first
time buyer as any offer that you make may be more readily accepted
by the seller who knows that you can move faster than someone with
a property to sell
» Don't get too attached to a house until
you know it's definitely yours. This helps you keep an open mind
on other places you look at.
Step 3
» Noting interest
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