If you had to buy a house again

[labamba007]

Okay cheekily putting this here for traffic, but if you had to buy a house again what would/wouldn't you do this time round?

I've never actually bought a house before and I've just had a mortgage agreed in principle. So I'd love to ask, if you were/are going to buy a house again, what would you do differently or what were you pleased you did right the first time?

Thank you! 🙏

Oh an outside tap! It’s been a lot more useful than I would have imagined. And access to the rear of your house without having to walk through it if you see what I mean.

If it was my first house again I’d consider more how long I wanted to be there, what my plans were etc. I lost >£20k on that house (it cost me £125k) when I sold it. I made that back, in effect anyway, by being able to jump further up the ladder with my next purchase so it’s not all bad. I think I’d consider buying a city centre flat for a couple of years and life that style of life.

This, with bells on. We’ve lodged a formal complaint about the one we were encouraged to use by the EA. He cost us £500 because we didn’t complete before the removal company were out of ours, so we had to get a hotel for the night and pay the removal firm to return with our belongings the next day.

Check it's freehold not leasehold
In depth survey and negotiate on the work
Question if the buyers are truthful when they say what the issues are / are not (see survey)
The structure of the house trumps decor
Go detached! Neighbours can change
Find the balance between house and location - if detached and parking are key for you it might trump a slightly nicer area

Think what it'll be like in bad weather: heavy rain, snow / ice etc.
Are the surrounding roads likely to be gritted (bus route)?

I would buy never buy a house without a mud room, or a sizeable back porch, or a rear conservatory, so that there is somewhere for muddy wellies, cleaning off dogs, hanging wet coats, etc.

I wouldn't buy a renovation project whilst pregnant with two dogs. What the fuck were we thinking 😂 2 years in, house is still a building site but now have a toddler to try keep away from live wires and asbestos. And a sign on the front door to keep it shut so workmen don't let the dogs out because one has zero recall and I'd never see her again. I am not okay 🫠🥲. But yeah my advice would be to buy one that's perfectly habitable and ready to move into.

Oh and DECLUTTER. Don't move loads of shit you'll never use and clog up your new home.

For those of you who are a bit older, don't buy a house on "Cromwell Street"
Bought it in 1988 but by spring 1994 I was really regretting it, lost a lot of money on that property!
I agree on the point of buying what you can stretch to in the best area, 30 years ago we moved 180 miles away from that street to a house that was "OK" but in a place that had fantastic neighbours, good shops & 5 minutes walk into open countryside.
Money was very tight for 15 years but now its mortgage free and somewhere I never want to move from.

@godmum56. I love ours, it is a glorious beech. But there's no getting away from the fact that its roots are forcing out the garden wall, and that our cars are permanently covered in pigeon poo!

Location, location, location.

Be near good schools, shops and amenities if you have or planning to have DC.

Stalk the neighbouring properties and try to see who the neighbours are.

Don't overstretch yourself for the dream home. The real dream is living comfortably within your means.

Following

I'd try to avoid a chain if at all possible.
If not, I'd get assurances from the seller (not from the agent) that they were really prepared to move. Twice I paid full structural survey and lawyers fees only for the seller to change their mind. This can still happen of course but one of the agents lied for sure.
I get professional cleaners in before I moved in.
I'd try and get any work needed done before I moved in. Even if this meant paying for storage and staying in an Airbnb.
I'd visit the property AT LEAST twice before making an offer.

Visit the road at different times of day. We brought a house on an absolute massive rat run road. As we brought the house during COVID, the volume of traffic was much lower and also, the estate agent showed us round after rush hour and at weekends (very sly)! First morning in the new house, woke up to huge amounts of traffic. We've got used to it now but it really annoyed us at first.

Agree 10000% lived detached for years and moved into a town house..... Worst mistake ever! The neighbours. The noise. The lack of privacy omg!

We live in Northern Ireland so when we bought our current house we looked for one that had a working open fire/log burner, a south facing walled garden and a bedroom for each of our 4 children who were young at the time. We also looked for 2+ reception rooms so as they grew up the DCs could have their own living space

Plus you have be like a mountain goat to get upstairs 😂

A hallway so I have somewhere to hang coats, etc. With cupboards.

A verandah at the front.

We stretched ourselves 10 years ago and bought a large(ish) 100 year old house which has almost doubled in value. It is now allowing us to move to Cornwall albeit we are downsizing.

I would definitely not buy an old house again. It’s been nice having character but the struggle with lack of insulation/ mould / damp has been awful.

Hope everything goes well and you enjoy making your new house your home xx

Do not believe one word spoken by any estate agent. Prerequisite for being an EA is to NOT tell the truth. They want their commission !

@WtP 😮

The point is that the poster gave the keys to the new buyer… before they had received the funds. In other words, she’d given them her house for free.

Yes it was quite an experience having the worlds press descend on your street along with a massive police presence!
Not something I would wish on anyone 😱

Go detached! As far away from anyone else as you can afford.

Only buy a house with its own parking.

Dont buy a fixer upper unless you have deep pockets