Being a well-informed home buyer
Being a well informed home buyer is now easier than ever before.
There is no doubt that buying (and selling) a home can be an intensely emotional process for some people. The solution to a successful property purchase is knowing where to find the answer for each challenge. The more information you have, the more logic rises and emotion subsides, keeping stress at bay.
It is useful to get a team of trusted advisers to assist you to assess the pros and cons of purchasing the property you are interested in. These advisers might include a valuer, solicitor and a building inspector.
Having an army of family, friends and advisers plying you with their opinions will only lead to confusion. Never ask these people whether you should or shouldn’t buy a property or how much you should pay. There is too much responsibility attached to these answers. They will understandably be conservative.
It is better to ask an expert. Maintain the same few expert advisers throughout your search. This will help them offer the best possible feedback and build on their knowledge of the market.
The transaction history of the property you intend to buy and other sales in the immediate area can be found easily by companies such as QV (Quotable Value) who specialise in this service. And if you Google search a specific property you will find other details related to the marketing of the property.
A good solicitor can assist during this emotional time. Their role is to identify the issues that could go wrong and advise you accordingly. Because most people buy property infrequently, they don’t know what to look for before
things go wrong. It’s your solicitor’s responsibility to tell you what you don’t know.
We always recommend obtaining a building inspection from a suitably qualified inspector. It’s also a good idea to attend the building inspection. This way you can talk to the inspector, so they can tell whether or not an issue they identify is a big or small problem to fix. What might appear to be a poor written report could be perfectly manageable, and the issues rectified without too much cost. By attending the building inspection, you will reduce your stress and not pass up the right property for you.
The location you buy in will have a massive impact on your happiness when you live there. We often recommend that buyers door knock the neighbours to get a feel for the area. If you do this, you may glean information the agents or vendors may not tell you or even know. Doing this you may decide you want to buy the house even more than you did before. Knowing you are buying in a desirable location with nice neighbours helps alleviate a lot of stress.
The informed buyer finds the often emotional process of purchasing a home so much easier than the unprepared and naive buyer. Finding experienced advisers and doing you homework is always worth the effort.
If you’re looking for a home call Cox Partners on 835-4321 anytime. We’d love to help.
