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If you are about to start house hunting, congratulations! You’ve made it; you have your deposit, you have been approved for a mortgage, and you can finally own your own home. It’s a dream that many people have, and you are able to make it a reality. Or perhaps you do already have a property, and now you’re looking at moving to upgrade or downsize, to get closer to good schools, or just for a change. Whatever your reason for starting the hunt for a new place to live, you need to enjoy the process. It’s far too easy to get stressed about finding the ideal property, especially if you have a time limit involved, such as you might if you have a buyer for your current house.
However, although it’s good to be a little more relaxed about searching through the plethora of properties available, you also need to be cautious. There are some important things to look out for if you want to ensure you find the right home for you and your family. Read on to find out what you need to consider to simplify the process.
Ask Questions
When you visit a house for the first time, you’ll get a feeling for it right away. You might fall in love, or you might just want to walk away and never think of it again. If it’s the latter, then look around and leave. If it’s the former, it’s crucial you ask some questions to get a better idea of things. Looks can be deceiving, and no matter how great the house feels, there could be underlying problems.
Ask about the neighbours, for example – what are they like? Ask about the area if you don’t know it. Ask how much council tax is, as well as other utilities. How far are the local shops? Ask anything you need to know the answer to, and don’t hold back; the more you know, the easier your decision will be.
Does Work Need To Be Done?
Not every house you’re going to walk into will be pristine, unless you’re only looking at newbuilds, in which case, they all should be sparkling clean and unused, of course. However, if you’re looking at pre-owned houses, some will be in a better condition than others. What makes the difference to you? Are you happy to find a property that needs work, one you can easily put your own stamp on? Or do you want one you can just move into and start enjoying without spending any additional money or effort on?
If you want a perfect house, then you need to walk away from anything that needs work doing. If you don’t mind doing work, perhaps by installing new Garador up and over doors to make the front of the property look good, or putting in a new bathroom or kitchen, for example, then you might have something to negotiate with when it comes to price.
Is There Enough Storage Space?
Something that many people forget about is storage space. However, it’s crucial you know there will be enough of it in your new home. The last thing you want is to clutter the place up because there is nowhere to put anything.
Look for cupboard space, look at how big the garage is, whether there is any outside storage, and so on. Compare this to how much storage you have in your own home and see what is going to fit. Will it work for you?