Buying a house can feel like a huge worry. It is a big investment and when you have worked hard and saved up for years to finally make sure that you have enough for a deposit, the last thing that you then want is to buy a house that isn’t quite right, or not what you thought it would be.
However, there are lots of things that you can do before deciding to go ahead and buy a property that will be able to put your mind at ease and help you to be confident that you have bought the right property for you.
You may know the area well, but even if it is not too far from you, it is always a good idea to have a drive or a walk around the local area a few times, if possible, at different times of the day. This will not only give you a feel for the area but will help you to decide if you can see yourself fitting in and feeling at home there, and whether it can offer you what you want.
Once you have decided that you are happy with the area, you can make an appointment to visit the house and look around it. If you are buying the house on your own, it is highly recommended that you take someone that you trust with you – a friend or a family member – as then you have someone to share thoughts and ideas with, as well as another pair of eyes and a second opinion, should you need it.
Make sure that you have a good look at the property – you can take a tape measure if you want to get a sense of the room size, which can sometimes be hard to judge by eye when there is someone else’s furniture in there. You should also have a good look at the outside as this is where you may find clues of some larger problems – of course a surveyor like this building survey Birmingham company Sam Con will be able to find lots more things that could potentially cause problems, but noticing these for yourself when you view a property could prevent you from starting the buying process only to find that the house has severe structural damage or a damp problem for example.
Inside the house it is also a good idea to check for things like the central heating – check to see that the hot water taps are in working order, and that the radiators are heating up in all the rooms. Heating is one of the most costly things to repair so make sure that you are aware of what you are letting yourself in for!
Always remember that it is fine to view a property more than once, so don’t feel that you are under pressure to find out all you need to know and make a decision on the first viewing of the property!
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