Page 36 - Redbriik: Property and Lifestyle Magazine Summer 2019

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BEST BUY FAR
MONEY MATTERS
As well as mortgage fees and property running costs, you should also be clear on what else you may have to spend on and whether you can afford it. Do your research and find out about other costs involved with buying a property. Stamp Duty, solicitor or conveyancing costs, surveys, removals or van hire and buildings and content insurances should all be factored in to your home- buying budget. At Redbrik we can put you in touch with the right people.
THE SEARCH STARTS HERE
Take time to think about what’s important to you when buying a
new property. Be realistic about your property search and the areas you would like to live in. Are you looking for a terraced, semi or detached house? A flat, apartment or bungalow? Consider whether you would be prepared to take on a renovation or would you be better suited to a property which is ready to move into. Make a wish list of other key features such as bedroom numbers, garden, parking, garage, school catchment area and proximity to amenities and transport.
FINDING YOUR DREAM HOME
Once you know exactly what you want from a property, now the fun bit begins! It’s time to start looking! Register your details with estate agents in the areas you would like to live in. If your search criteria changes, let the estate agent know so they can update their records and send you property matches
when new properties come on the market that suit your requirements.
You can also create property alerts on the industry’s leading property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and On the Market. Although you will have a wish list, try to be flexible and open minded too - the more detailed your search criteria is, the less properties you will match up to.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
You can get so much information about a property on the internet these days that it’s easy to rule out a possible new home just by looking at photos and plans online. But, more often than not, it’s only when you look round a house that you really get
a feel for a place and whether you can see yourself living there. So, the message is, view, view view! View lots of houses. Look at them in the daylight and at night and drive around the area at different times of the day to see whether it’s right for you.
QUESTION TIME
You think you have found the right property, what next? Let the agent know you are interested and if you are thinking of making an offer request a second viewing. Don’t be shy about asking lots of questions, here’s some you may consider:
Q: Is anyone else interested? Q: How many viewings has the
property had?
Q: Have there been any other offers?
Q: Do you know of any sales that have fallen through? What were the reasons?
WRITTEN BY
MICHAEL PARRY
MICHAEL.PARRY@REDBRIK.CO.UK
Buying a house is one of the biggest things you will do in a lifetime. So how can you make the process
as simple and straightforward as possible?
Before taking any steps on the property ladder, it’s important to get yourself buyer ready. From viewings to offers and mortgages to stamp duty, a bit of planning can take you a long way.
If you can get your head around the basics of how things work, you’re less likely to be taken by surprise along the way and your home buying experience will certainly be easier.
Here’s our top tips to help you transform into the best buyer you can be.
START SAVING
If you’re a first-time buyer, you should start saving for a deposit. There’s lots of support schemes available including Help to Buy, Equity Loan and Shared ownership.
If you need a mortgage, make an appointment with an independent financial advisor who can review your finances, advise on what you can afford and provide a Mortgage Agreement in Principle. It’s important to budget for the monthly running costs of a property, as well as mortgage fees.
redbrik.co.uk
BUYER READY