… It is finally time to start viewing properties. This is the fun part, but don’t get carried away. “Having waited so long to save a deposit, it’s important not to rush the final decision — take your time when viewing a house and try to resist the pressure to commit before you’re ready,” says Ben Leonard, chief executive of FirstHomeCoach.
“The more information you have on the property, the better equipped you are to make an offer. Don’t be shy: ask as many questions as you like, view the house more than once and at different times of the day, take pictures on your phone and make notes as you go.”
Before you make an offer, ask the agent whether they recommended the guide price or the vendor. “You might not get an answer, but their response will be a sure indication as to whether the agent has confidence in the price being asked,” says James Mackenzie, head of Strutt & Parker’s country department.
Once you’ve had an offer accepted, the legal process takes over. “Do not sit back and assume it will all be taken care of by your solicitor,” says Carol Peett, managing director of West Wales Property Finders. Contact them once a week for an update; if they are waiting for anything from the vendor, urge the estate agent to chase them up. “Nearly a third of purchases fall through between an offer being accepted and exchange, and this will help ensure yours is not part of this statistic.”
Make sure you carefully read through all the documents your solicitor sends you. A lot of first-time buyers purchase leasehold properties, which adds an extra dimension to the legal work. “Don’t rely on your solicitor to check the length of the lease,” Kerr says. “Leases below 80 years are a problem and they can be costly to extend. You also need to have owned the property for two years before you are eligible to do so. Leases under 60 years are best avoided.”
Mythbuster: You don’t need a survey if the mortgage company is doing one
When mortgage lenders carry out a survey on a property, it is simply a valuation survey. This means it is merely checking the property is worth what you are paying for it, and may not spot problems.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/first-time-buyer-guide-how-mortgage-deposit-house-help-buy-lifetime-isa-shared-ownership-h77mmb90x – The Sunday Times 26th January 2020
If you are looking to move to West Wales or buy a property in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Gower, give West Wales Property Finders a call on 01834 86816. We can find your perfect property for you whilst saving you time, stress and often money too http://www.westwalespropertyfinders.co.uk
