Vital Advice For First-Time Home Buyers
Do you intend to purchase your first property this year? Are you currently spending hours every day checking the market in the hope you will discover the perfect home? Then it makes sense to use some of the tips and advice from this page to ensure you leave no stone unturned. The last thing you want to do is make mistakes because that could mean you have to sell the house and relocate again within only a few years. Lots of first-time buyers end up doing that, and it’s a shame because it means those people never manage to settle. With that in mind, there are some fantastic suggestions below that should guarantee you make all the right moves. If you fail to take heed, there is a decent chance you are not going to end up with the perfect home.
Choosing the right location
The location of your new home is critical if you want to find somewhere to stay for many years. Ideally, you need to choose houses that are within a reasonable distance of your workplace. Nobody wants to drive for more than a couple of hours every day to reach the office. Considering that, now is the best time to get a map and draw a circle around the place you work. You can then see which towns, cities, and villages are near enough to the building you have to visit every day to earn your living. There are also lots of other elements you will want to consider when it comes to selecting the right location. However, we’ll discuss them a little more in the moment. Right now, you just need to make sure you place the location at the top of your list of considerations.
Opting for the best house type
There are lots of different types of homes available today, and you need to choose the most suitable one for your family. If there are only two people in your group, there is no need to purchase a large home in most instances. You can either look for flats, cottages, or apartments because you don’t require as much space as most others. However, those with children are going to need something a little more substantial. Look for a semi-detached or terrace house that meets and exceeds your criteria for the best outcomes. Detached homes tend to cost a lot more than their counterparts, and so you should probably leave those for people who already have a foot on the housing ladder.
Researching crime rates
Now we come to more issues that should help you to determine which locations are most suitable. Nobody wants to live in an area where there is a decent chance someone will break into their home. Likewise, few people like the idea of relocating to a town where they can’t walk the streets at night. Bear that in mind and make sure you conduct a lot of research into local crime rates. Believe it or not, the government and police force now publish all the information you need online for free. So, it’s just a case of conducting a straightforward Google search and taking a look at some of the results. Hopefully, that should assist when it comes to sorting the wheat from the chaff and ensuring you choose a safe neighborhood.
Researching local schools
People who have children will need to make sure there are some excellent local schools with fantastic track records of success. Again, the authorities publish league tables online, and so you can find out all the information you require in a matter of minutes. Look for schools where lots of pupils graduate with reasonable grades. You should also take the time to discover how many pupils the schools expel every year. That will give you an indication of the type of people with whom your child might spend their days in the classroom. Make sure you avoid schools that offer lower than average performance for the best outcomes. When all’s said and done, you want your kids to get a decent education, right?
Contacting real estate agents
When you know which locations are most suitable for you, it’s time to search online for real estate agents who can assist during the property purchase process. You are guaranteed to discover at least a few firms that deal with houses in that area, and so it’s just a case of making contact. Let the real estate agents know about your chosen location, and ask them to provide you with a list of recommendations. You can then browse the files and see if anything catches your eye. If you would like to view any of the properties, the real estate agent will arrange that for you. Make sure you speak to at least two different companies for the best results and let each of them know you’re also dealing with their rival. That will create an element of competition that could work in your favor.
Applying for your mortgage
Before you can make any offers or work out how much you can afford to spend; you’ll have to book an appointment to see your bank’s mortgage advisor. Bear in mind that some banks might turn you down, but others might accept. So, it’s sensible to visit a different bank if you don’t have any luck the first time around. Hopefully, the people working at that establishment will take a look at your employment history and then let you know how much they are willing to lend and over what period. You can then use that information to ensure you don’t waste time viewing homes for which the asking price exceeds your budget. Banks are throwing money at people at the moment, and so you shouldn’t encounter too many stumbling blocks.
Getting building checks
Whatever happens, do not make the mistake of buying a property before you pay for building checks. You can make the seller an offer before then, but you must let them know it is conditional on the results of a professional assessment. There are lots of construction specialists out there who focus on that niche for their entire career. So, again, you just need to search online to find someone with the right expertise. For a small fee, that person will then come to the house and give it the once-over. They will provide you with a report that explains any structural problems or anything that could harm the home and cost you a small fortune in the future. If you discover there are some issues, it is sensible to adjust your offer accordingly.
Making your offer
It’s essential that you remember to hold your cards close to your chest when it comes to making an offer to purchase your first home. You need to learn how to negotiate for the best outcomes, and there is a wealth of information about that online. Do yourself a favor and read lots of articles to ensure you know all the best techniques and strategies. You are probably going to need to save some cash for improvements, etc. Never make the mistake of offering the asking price for any property you might consider. Instead, you should offer around 15% less than the asking price and then allow the seller to drive you up another 5%. So, you will end up paying 10% less than the seller wanted for the house, and that means you don’t overspend unnecessarily. You could also employ the services of an advisor to secure the sale on your behalf.
Arranging the move
Lastly, once you have the perfect home and your offer gets accepted; you’ll need to arrange the relocation. Anyone with half a brain will employ professional removals companies because the people working for those businesses move bulky items every single day. They also have appropriate insurance in place that will cover the cost of any damages that might occur. So, using the experts means you can sit back and relax while someone else does all the hard work for only a few hundred dollars. Getting the timing right is sometimes an issue because you rarely get the keys to your new house on the day you predict. However, with a little forethought and some common sense, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to relocate without causing headaches.
Now you know all the steps you need to take to ensure you make the right moves when looking for your first home this year; nothing should stand in the way of your success. With a bit of luck, you will end up in a home in a pleasant area that meets your expectations. If you achieve that; you can usually settle down because there is no reason to move again for many years. Indeed, the only time you will want to relocate is when you decide there is a lot of equity in your house and you want to use it to move up the housing ladder. Still, you could stay there forever, pay off the mortgage, and never have to worry about putting a roof over your head again. All the final decisions are down to you. The information on this page is just here to ensure you leave no stone unturned.