Everything You Need To Know About Buying A House
If you are looking into buying your first home this year, you have probably already spent a long time saving up, looking at the market, and working out exactly what the process of buying a house is. This is the biggest investment you will ever make in your life, and therefore, it is important that you take your time and make it count. Here is everything that you need to do and think about before buying a house.
When purchasing a house, it’s crucial to look beyond what meets the eye – especially when it comes to energy efficiency. In today’s environmentally conscious world, sustainability and cost-efficiency go hand in hand. Opting for an energy-efficient home not only reduces your carbon footprint but also saves you money on utility bills. Keep an eye out for features like double-glazed windows, proper insulation, and energy-efficient appliances when looking at properties offered by estate agents like finlay brewer. By investing in an eco-friendly home now, you’ll reap its benefits both financially and morally in years to come.
Find Out What You Can Afford
The first step to buying a house before you even look at the market is to find out exactly how much money you can afford to make. In order to start looking at the houses that are for sale in your area, you need to have an idea of the budget you are looking for. You can do this by using a mortgage calculator online, which will use your wages and total outgoings to calculate the value of the house you will be able to buy.
Save Up More than You Need for a Deposit
Once you know how much you can afford, you will need to see how much money you currently have saved up for a deposit. Your deposit can be anything between 5-20%, although you can pay higher than this if you would like a shorter mortgage term. Once you know how much you have and how much you are aiming to save, save more. The reason for this is that you will also need to think about the solicitor’s fees, land tax, stamp duty, and other small costs that go hand in hand with buying a house.
Speak to a Mortgage Advisor
Once you have your money straightened out and you know exactly where you are, you need to speak to a mortgage advisor and think about the mortgage term and cost that will suit you the best. You can take this opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the process and to get your head around the different concepts surrounding buying a home. Take your time and make sure that you understand the whole process before you continue.
Know What You Want
When you start looking at homes on the market, it can be far too easy to get over-excited with every single property that comes your way. However, if you are going to be smart and make the right decision for yourself and your family, you need to have a solid idea of exactly what you want out of the house. Do you need a big garden for your pets or your children? How many bedrooms do you need? Would you like plenty of storage? Sit down with your partner and go through everything you both want and need in your new home, this will make it much easier for you when narrowing down properties on the list.
Drive-by
Once you have browsed estate agents like Ray White and made a shortlist of houses that you love, you can go on a little drive-by before you decide to view the property. This allows you to see what the area is like, and also, you’ll be able to see things like the width of the road, the parking situation, and how dark the property is. This will give you a better idea of whether or not you can see yourself living here, and it will also allow you to become familiar with the area as a whole. Make sure that you do 2 different ones: 1 in the day and 1 at night. This will enable you to see if there are any vandals hanging around the area and whether it seems safe at night.
Go for a Viewing
Viewing houses is one of the most exciting parts of the home-buying process because it is the first time that you truly feel that you are doing this. Once you have decided on a few favorite houses, go and view them. When you go for a viewing, remember to keep your eyes peeled for things like mold, dampness, cracks, and creaks. Be aware of everything that could possibly be wrong with the house as to walk around, and don’t be discouraged by the decor. Think of the rooms as being empty, and imagine where your furniture would go: can you imagine yourself living here? If so, you can either set up a second viewing with your parents or you can simply make that offer.
Getting Home Buyers Report
Once you make an offer on a house that is accepted, you’ll have to set up a meeting with your mortgage advisor to get the ball rolling. Once you have decided on a plan that suits your needs, you will need to arrange a home buyer’s report. A homebuyer’s report is essentially a survey that is done on your home, and it will tell both you and the lender whether the house has issues. You will have a few options for different reports to take, but it is better to pay for the all-inclusive one, which will allow the surveyor to go into the house and really take a thorough look around. It is great peace of mind and will allow you to carry on the process safely.
The Contract
When your solicitor sends you the contract for your new home, you need to read it, read it again, and then read it one more time just to make sure. There are a lot of things included in the contract, such as the current energy provider, details on any refurbishments, and whether or not the kitchen appliances are gas or electric. Make sure you ask about whether the fittings and fixtures are included in the sale of the house because this will include the curtain and the light fittings. If you have to pay out for these things, it can become costly, so make sure you know exactly what you will be getting.
Picking up the Keys
When you are happy with your contract, it will be sent off, and you will pay your deposit to the solicitors, once this has been completed, it is just a waiting game to find out when you will be moving into your new home. The day that you pick up the keys will be super exciting, so make sure that you get lots of champagne in, grab a takeaway with your family and celebrate your new home!
Packing Up
Packing up your house is a long process, and it should be something that you start to do a while before moving day. Make sure you take the time to declutter the house first, and then you can sort your items into categories room by room. Label your boxes as you go along because this will allow you to put the boxes straight into the correct room when you reach the new home. because, according to Atlanta Home Movers it is easier to unpack the multiple boxes you will have during a move. Plus, there won’t be any confusion as to where the towels or dishes are.
Moving in
Moving day will be a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and just a little bit of stress. You will be moving into your new home, and you might not even have a cooler for a couple of days, so make sure you stock up on plenty of food! You can either use a professional company, hire a van for the day, or ask your family to help you move in, and it will be the most wonderfully tiring day of your life. Take things slowly, and just try and get everything into the house before you start unpacking. Over the next few months, you will likely move things around anyway once you decide how you like it.
The Meters
When you move into your new home, don’t use any water or energy until you have taken a meter reading. The meter reading you take should be the same as the one the seller took as they left, so make sure this is the first thing you do. You can use this when applying for your energy plan and it will make sure that you only get charged for the energy you have used since moving into the house.
Secure the House
Once you are moved in, you need to think about one more thing before you settle into your new chapter of life. Make sure that you secure your home and make it as safe as possible to deter robbers. You can start off by changing the locks for the exterior of the house because this will ensure that no one you don’t know has access to the keys of your home. You will next want to bring in an alarm system, and you can install a pet-friendly one if you need to. And lastly, for ultimate protection of your home, install some cameras outside which should record any movement and also act as an instant deterrent for anyone who plans to rob your home.
You can now enjoy every second of your new life and start to make some amazing memories in your new home!
