5 tips to prepare you for house buying
Sian Hiatt, Sales Manager, provides you soon-to-be house buyers with 5 top tips to help you prepare for the house buying process...
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.
If you were to write down some of the most important decisions you ever have to make in your life, choosing which house to buy would certainly be up there.
Due to increasing house prices, it’s being made ever-more difficult for people to get their foot on the property ladder. This is making many people feel as though they are being forced into buying a home later in their lives, but if you can purchase the right home at the right time, the long-term benefits and security could be immeasurable.
To help those of you who are looking to take giant strides towards buying your first home in the near future, as well as those existing homeowners who are planning to move to a new property, here are our top 5 tips to prepare you for the house buying process.
1. Understand what house price is affordable
You’d be surprised at how many people house hunt before figuring out how much they can afford to spend on a property. It happens time and time again - someone finds a property they fall in love with, complete mortgage applications, and then discover that their affordability falls short.
Unless you are a cash buyer, speak with mortgage lenders before you even begin the house hunt. This will give you an idea of what property price range you can start shopping in - saving you time and disappointment in the long run and making you appear far more organised and ready to buy in the eyes of sellers.
You’ll need to make sure the required deposit is at the ready, and if you’re a first time buyer, see if you’re eligible for the Welsh governments Help to Buy scheme.
Read: Your guide to the home conveyancing process
2. Scout locations
Once you have a set budget, you can start seeing which areas fit your criteria. Think about how far away from work you’re willing to live, what the commute is like, public transportation, local schools if you’re looking to start a family, access to local amenities. Sometimes an up-and-coming area can be good value for money, so make sure you become well acquainted with prices and potential in all suburbs.
Understanding the type of property you can afford to buy in certain areas will help you narrow down your search and save you from investing time and energy in areas that don’t make sense to you and your future.
After all, location really does make a huge difference on price properties. A 3-bedroom house in one area of Cardiff may be valued significantly different to a property in another area.
Read: Best areas to live in Cardiff for a family
3. Contact local estate agents and set up property alerts
Make sure all local estate agents are well aware of your house hunt. They will be able to shortlist you for properties that come on the market with your required criteria and make you aware before everyone else comes across it on property portals like Rightmove.
Furthermore, estate agents will be familiar with not only the market and properties that are becoming available but will also be able to offer advice on areas and all other aspects of property buying and selling. The best agents have many years of expertise and a team that are happy and willing to help in any way they can to make the entire process as enjoyable as possible for you.
More enjoyment, less stress!
4. Look for improvement projects
Some of the best property bargains are when a home needs a fair bit of working doing to it. If you’re happy shaping the property of your dreams and have the funds and knowledge to fuel it, searching for a suitable renovation project could be idea. Even properties that are structurally sound but in need of a total decorative overhaul can often demand a much lower price that surrounding competition. This can often be the case for properties that are inherited with sellers wanting to quickly offload them.
Alternatively, you may want to search for a house that’s ready for you to live in with that has space available for an extension. This can allow you to purchase a property now a lower price but still have the scope for expansion when your family requires it.
Read: Purchasing a property for a renovation project
5. Take a second look
Before putting in a firm offer on a property you like, always consider booking in a second viewing - ideally at a different time of the day. It’s surprising just how different areas can look during the daytime versus during the night, and vice versa. You want to ensure you’ll definitely feel safe, secure and at home in your new property, so it’s worth that second look just to make sure. Perhaps you can take different people along with you for fresh opinions.
Are you getting ready to buy a property in Cardiff? Be sure to check out our buying guide and speak to our expert sales team here at CPS Homes to find out how we can help. Contact us by calling 02920 668585, e-mail enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or pop in branch to speak to us.
