{"id":19168,"date":"2019-02-04T07:07:54","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T07:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/?p=19168"},"modified":"2019-02-04T07:08:18","modified_gmt":"2019-02-04T07:08:18","slug":"4-key-questions-to-help-you-find-the-right-first-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/4-key-questions-to-help-you-find-the-right-first-home\/","title":{"rendered":"4 key questions to help you find the right first home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buying your own home can be one of the most exciting and stressful experiences, especially if you\u2019re a first time buyer. Planning and preparation is key \u2013 but <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firsttimebuyermag.com\/5-tips-every-first-time-buyer-should-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">where do you even start<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Well, we\u2019re here to help you take the right first steps. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a look at the questions below and use them as a guide to inform your decision making. Get them right and you\u2019ll be poised for getting onto the first rung of the property ladder with a home that\u2019s right for your needs. Get them wrong and you could be wasting precious time and effort looking in the wrong direction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What should you be looking for in your first home?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you start house hunting, your search will revolve around three key factors: the location, the price and the property itself. Before you get carried away looking at potential homes that may not be suitable, it\u2019s a good idea to sit down and draw up your priorities and areas of flexibility in each of the areas below. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/taramastroeni\/2018\/06\/23\/priority-home-search\/#5d33bdf7292c\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write down your \u2018must haves\u2019<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and your \u2018nice to haves\u2019 in terms of:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Affordability <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is your absolute upper price limit? It helps to have a mortgage in principle arranged beforehand so you know how much you can afford.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Size<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Number of bedrooms required. Number of bathrooms, especially if you are planning to house share or rent out rooms. Outdoor space such as a patio, garden or parking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the proximity to work, family, friends, local amenities? What about transport links? How nice\/safe is the area overall and are there any planning applications in the pipeline?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Condition<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you move straight in or would you have to redecorate? Any building works required and if so, how much would you be prepared to take on?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep these criteria firmly in mind to help you focus on the right kind of property. However, do also bear in mind that your primary goal is not necessarily to find your forever home; it\u2019s to find a suitable home to enable you to get onto the housing ladder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best way to approach a property viewing?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve made a shortlist of potentially interesting properties, it\u2019s time to arrange some viewings. Many first time buyers struggle with the process of viewing a property. Obviously, you need to be respectful when you visit someone else\u2019s home, but don\u2019t lose sight of the fact that you are there to critically assess a huge purchase decision and possibly the biggest investment you will ever make. If you\u2019re worried about having to interact with the current property owner, ask the estate agent to accompany you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re at the property, take a long look at the outside of the building. What is your first impression of the roof, walls, windows and doors? Make a note of anything that looks odd to you and alert your surveyor to take a closer look when he carries out the survey inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once inside the building, it\u2019s very easy to get carried away by the current d\u00e9cor which may or may not be too your taste. Look past any superficial details \u2013 walls can be repainted, soft furnishings can be changed \u2013 and scrutinise the space properly including:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Light<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does the property feel bright and airy or dark and dingy? Which way do the main rooms face? Do you think you could make it feel \u2018homely\u2019?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dimensions<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are the rooms big enough? Will your furniture fit in the new spaces? Are there sufficient built-in storage solutions for all your possessions?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Structure<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open\/close windows and doors to ensure proper working. Be alert to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homify.co.uk\/ideabooks\/3710477\/11-things-you-must-check-when-viewing-a-property\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obvious signs of damp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (peeling wallpaper, musty scents, damp patches, condensation).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilities<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check for enough power outlets, try light switches to check the wiring, test taps and WC for water pressure, get a look at the heating system, find out about broadband.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What should you do differently on a second viewing?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While seeing a favoured property \u2018in the flesh\u2019 will give you a pretty good indication of whether or not it might be a suitable home for you, it\u2019s never a good idea to make a purchasing decision based on a single visit. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re still keen having seen the property, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moneysupermarket.com\/money-made-easy\/how-to-make-maximum-use-of-your-second-viewing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrange for a second viewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ideally at a different time of day. That way, you can check things like different levels of daylight, noisy neighbours, traffic levels and parking difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A second visit will act as a sanity check and an opportunity to inspect the house or flat without being distracted by any rose tinted spectacles. If possible, go armed with a list of building related questions that the estate agent or property owner may be able to answer. Better still, take a friendly surveyor along for an extra pair of eyes, particularly if you are thinking of making refurbishments or alterations to the interior or exterior of the building.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How to proceed when you\u2019ve found the perfect home?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are happy that the property meets your needs, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/compare-estate-agents\" title=\"estate agents\">estate agents<\/a> will ask you to make an offer. Once the purchase price has been agreed, you will need to instruct a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/conveyancing-quotes\" title=\"conveyancing\">conveyancing<\/a> solicitor and also contact your lender to let them know that you are ready to proceed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final important step is to make contact with a Chartered Surveyor and choose the right kind of property survey. As a first time buyer, this can be confusing and there may be <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ag-surveyors.co.uk\/faq.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many questions you need to ask<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before you can ascertain which type of survey is best. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With funds stretched, it may be tempting to skip the survey, especially if you\u2019re buying a modern property or a new build that looks in good condition. However, property transactions operate on the basis of \u2018caveat emptor \u2013 buyer beware\u2019, meaning that it is up to you to ensure there is no problem with the building. Hidden defects or structural issues can potentially cost thousands to repair, which is why a professional property survey is an excellent idea to protect your investment, and an opportunity to renegotiate the purchase price downwards in case of major findings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buying your own home can be one of the most exciting and stressful experiences, especially if you\u2019re a first time buyer. Planning and preparation is key \u2013 but where do you even start? Well, we\u2019re here to help you take<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/4-key-questions-to-help-you-find-the-right-first-home\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":19169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[7,14,16],"tags":[],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":null,"_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/first-home-1-1.jpg","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/4_key_questions_to_help_you_find_the_right_first_home","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19168"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19168"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19175,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19168\/revisions\/19175"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19168"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=19168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}