Your home is probably the most expensive thing you are ever likely to purchase and as such it’s not a decision to make lightly. However, you’d be amazed how many people rush into buying a house (usually because they fear someone else will take it if they don’t) and very often important considerations are ignored. If you’re on the lookout for a new place, here are some things to bear in mind.
Yes it’s a cliché but when checking out your shortlist of homes for sale the first thing to consider is location, location location. There are lots of things you can do to the interior of the house to make it feel more homely but the one thing you can’t change is the location. Think about how close it is to where you work, what the transport links are like. Are there nice shops and restaurants nearby? Is it close to a supermarket? And most importantly, if you have children, what are the schools like? All these things should be taken into account before you make your final decision.
Aside from the location, there are other ‘situation’ factors to take into account. Is the garden south facing so that you’ll get sunshine in the summer? Does it have a nice view? Do you have your own driveway or is it shared with neighbours? And if you have a car, on street parking will be very important if you don’t have a driveway or garage.
Talking of the neighbours, don’t underestimate the importance of checking them out as much as possible before you buy. Noisy or disruptive people next door can ruin people’s lives and turn the dream home into something of a nightmare. When you’re looking at buying a home make sure you speak to the vendors about the people next door. If they have ever made a complaint to the police or other authorities about them then legally they are obliged to tell you. They may not always be totally upfront about noise if the police have never been involved, but use your intuition when you ask and check their body language when they give you an answer. The other thing you could do is ask the neighbours on the other side. They have no vested interest so should give you an honest appraisal.
And finally, it’s very important to keep an eye out for structural damage when you’re viewing homes. Cracks and damp patches should definitely not be taken lightly as they may affect your chances of getting a mortgage and could prove to be very costly in the long run. No matter how much you love the rest of the house, take all things into consideration before you make a decision.