First time buyer

[ErickBroch]

Hi, first post.

Looking to buy my first home with my partner, starting house viewings this weekend.

What are the questions that you regret not asking before you made an offer?

Would be very helpful! Don't want to miss something obvious due to naivety!

Nothing I regret as such, but get a mortgage in principle, use a broker (ours was £200, gave us more options and a much better deal than going directly to a bank), and look at things like the electrics and roof when viewing to get an idea of what might need replacing, eg if they look ancient & dodgy, they probably are!
Don't be afraid to look in cupboards and under rugs, that where you'll find the leaking pipework or the massive stain on the floor....

Had not thought of looking in cupboards and under rugs etc! Thank you!
Wasn't sure if it would be too rude to start fiddling around with all their things

I'd recommend

• spend some time in the neighbourhood after the viewing to see how it feels
• check local authority website to see if there are any big developments planned in the area
• ask if appliances are staying (can be v ££)
• ask about their timelines. Long chains can be a nightmare

Agree about getting a broker, ours has been enormously helpful.

Looking in the roof, testing the water pumps, checking cupboard space, storage for everything, even dinner plates!

Check the carpets for recently moved furniture - what is it hiding? has it been recently moved - don't be afraid to move and check behind sofa's - check the windows - are they double glazed? When were they last done? Last gas/elec check?

Normally the viewings are done by the agent so don't worry about checking places - you are going to be spending a HUGE amount of money so don't be afraid to ask questions and check.

Definitely use a broker. Get your locations first, prioritise your commute and how far you want to spend getting to and from work and the costs involved.

Make a list of your non negotiables. Driveway or garage. Schools, work, etc.

Then prioritise for the house itself, how many bedrooms, size of lounge, is it future proof, is it liveable? Do you want to host dinner parties - is there room for that and for people to stay?

Have fun - and don't get emotionally involved - be prepared to walk away if you need to.

Walk around the area, pay attention to the amount of people/cars for that time of day, trust your gut feeling

Check the parking situation and visit the area at different times/days, so you can check that it isn’t particularly noisy, or filled with cars so you can’t park anywhere.

Thanks for all the brilliant advice, I am taking it all on board! Fortunately it has a double drive but I am quite worried about neighbours and noise so will definitely be lurking around if we like it at different times of the day to assess the situation!

Amazing help everyone, thank you!

We are there too!
It's exciting but also very daunting.

My advice as a long time 'renter' around London and interior professionals are:
1.Parking ( do you have vehicles and how does the parking situation currently stands as )
2.Commute ( how far is the nearest link and how long will it take you to get to work on a daily bases)
3.Neighbors (Have a quick word with the seller and have a look in the local area for any reports of the area itself.)
4.Neighborhood (spend some time in the area, however, make sure it's both during the day and during the evening).

1. The building itself ( ground rents, services charges, lease )
2. Council tax and the council itself (every council works different )
3. Appliances (old or new, free-standing or integrated )
4. Boiler and pipework ( I know this could be a tricky one but an overall view will give you an idea on boiler age and pipework )
5. Check the Bathroom and the air circulation ( Mould can grow very quickly and be removed easily with paint for the time being )

10. Windows ( new or old -how old, any guarantee ?)

If I think of anything else I will add it to the list!

Good luck

Drive/walk around the neighbourhood at different times of the day. I must have driven past mine 30 times at least during the process!

I'd add turn a tap on to check that the water pressure isn't terrible!

Do get your mortgage offer agreed in principle before making an offer otherwise you may not be taken seriously.

Simply doing research into other recent comparable sold prices to see if the house is realistically priced seems to be beyond the wit of most buyers these days.

When you find one you’d like to put an offer on go back and see it again (at least a second viewing). Take your time walking through it, take pics on your phone of things you like as well as things you might want to run by a builder or forum or even ask your surveyor to look at when the time comes.

Thanks everyone for all of your help - it has been greatly appreciated! We really like one of them and are heading back Sunday for another look and for more finite details.

We also have our agreement in principal already, and will be getting a homebuyers survey!

I didn't take photos the first time but as it's our second time and it's quite clear we like it and will probably make an offer - I am sure they won't mind.

Welcome!

Be sure to check out ofsted reports for local schools regardless of whether you and your partner are planning a child. They can often be quite telling about the area you're in and you never know, it might be a place you decide to start a family!

Happy hunting. Wishing you the best of luck with it all