Advice for buying a house?

[Jollycat8]

Hello!

As stated in the title- what advice would you give someone looking to buy their next home?

DH and I are homeowners BUT we had an incredibly stress-free and straightforward process first time around, as we bought the house we were renting from relatives. No house-hunting, negotiating, chains etc.

We are looking to move area to be nearer family - and hopefully upsize as property is a little cheaper there. We have two DC in primary and will need to find schools etc.

The year before last we built an extension: it was so incredibly stressful and there is so much I wish I’d known beforehand! So in the hope of being more prepared for the ups and downs of buying and selling, is there anything you wish you’d known? Or would do differently given the chance?

TIA!

Things I check or will check because of past bad experience are, in no particular order. Whether the boiler works, of there is actually hot water. The water pressure. The loft space, look for signs of leaks, holes in the party wall etc. Feel the walls for signs of damp, if an old house knock on the walls for signs of blown plaster. Take a good look at the fuse board and check it looks fairly modern with fuses for all the things you'd expect. Look whether there are enough plug sockets in the right places. Ask about who owns what land / fences etc outside. Check the state of the kitchen, actually open doors etc, Check the hob works and so on.

Go and view as many places as humanly possible, even if they're not quite right. It will give you an overall feel for the market in your area and you'll be better able to spot a bargain when you see one. It will also give you more confidence when deciding how much to offer.

This.

Even viewing a property you definitely don't like at the viewing is not a waste of time, it is good market research. The more you view the more you will know when you find the one that is the best of the bunch for you.