15 Questions to Ask When Buying a House for the First Time
Buying a house is tough at the best of times, let alone when you've never done it before. You want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck, but you also want to make sure that you're not being duped. When I was a first-time buyer, there were things I wish I'd have asked which may have saved us a lot of hassle in the long run. So, here are 15 questions to ask when buying a house for the first time.
- Why are you selling the property? - some buyers won't want to share this information, but it helps to provide the full context. It could be there's a building development near by they don't want you to know about. so, if they're shady, it's something to be suspicious of, but if they're open and quick with their answer, it can make you feel better about the purchase
- How long has the property been on the market? - this gives you an idea of interest. If it's not had much, why is that?
- Has the asking price recently changed? - this gives you an indication of interest as well. If it's been on the market for a long time, the price will have been reduced. Ask about this to gauge an understanding of demand or interest in the property
- How much are the running costs? - running a home can be expensive, but it's a hidden cost that homeowners don't think about. Ask about council tax bands, gas and electric bills, water bills, broadband availability, service charges, ground rent, regular maintenance costs
- How old is the boiler? - replacing a boiler is costly, take it from me. If it's over ten years old, then it will need to be replaced in the near future. Is this something you can foot the bill for?
- How old are major aspects of the property? - this includes the roof, windows, doors, plumbing, electrical installations and integrated kitchen appliances and ovens (if included in the sale price)
- Has the property had a problem with damp or mould? - they may not be truthful, but it will take them aback when you ask the question. This will give you an idea of how truthful, or not, they're being. Use your instincts on this one based on their answer
- What is the neighbourhood like? - the house may be perfect, but what about the surrounding area? Ask about schools, transport links, local shops, parking, traffic, noise, neighbourhood safety, planned developments and more
- Is the property freehold or leasehold? - this is important. Ideally, you want freehold. Leasehold means you'll have to pay land or ground rent, which is an added cost on top of your mortgage repayment, usually. If it's a leasehold property, you should also about the years remaining on the lease, what the service charges are, whether there's ground rent to pay, if there are planned major works and who is responsible for ground maintenance
- What's included in the sale of the property? - it could save money on appliances, like ovens, fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and more. But don't just look at the obvious. Other things, like curtains, blinds, light fittings, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, built-in wardrobes and other fixtures and fittings, can be included in the sale of the property
- Have any alterations been made or extension been built? - conservatories, loft conversions, converted garages and more need to abide by planning permissions and building regulations. If the answer is yes, then you need proof that such work has been carried out legitimately. But there are some instances where paperwork isn't needed. Ask your solicitor or conveyancer about those exceptions and ask about indemnity insurances
- What is the energy efficiency rating? - energy efficiency will dictate the amount of money you spend heating or cooling the property. Ask about forms of insulation, such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double glazing, heating systems etc
- Is there anything else I need to know? - the likely answer will be "no", but it's worth asking the question to get people thinking
- Have you received other offers? - again, their answer could be "no", just to keep you interested, so take this answer with a pinch of salt. However, they could be honest with you, so you just never know
- Have you already found another property? - it's always good to know what the seller's position is before committing. if they've not found anywhere themselves then it could take months, or even years for a sale to go through. It's also more likely that the chain will collapse. Be wary of sellers who haven't found anywhere or who are looking to move away or abroad
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful. Let me know in the comments below whether you have any other questions for a first-time buyer to ask when buying a home and I'll see you all again soon with some brand new content!
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