It needn't be too hard! (Buyers Guide: Houses)

Member Name: fitznstarts

Product:	Buyers Guide: Houses
Date:	11/06/01 (105 review reads)
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My wife and I are in the process of buying our third house as I write. I'm just into my 30s and my wife is three years younger than me, so this is still quite a novel experience for us.

Everyone (me included) always warned friends and collegues that moving house is the most stressful thing you can do. While that might be the case, this move (so far) is going fairly well.

We are fortunate that we have first-time buyer for our property and are buying from a family emigrating. There is no chain in effect. The chain is the point where it can all go pear-shaped. Things completely outside your control can delay matters unduly.

A few tips for those thinking about the buying or moving:

* Use websites such as www.upmystreet.com for all the latest information on your local area.

* Don't be afraid to negotiate. Negotiate down the price of the new house if you are in a strong position, such as a first time buyer, or someone without a chain behind you.

* Negotiate on your solicitors fees, but be careful not to choose the cheapest firm. Ask who the Estate Agents recommend. They get paid a commission (see below) so want the most hassle-free deal to get paid quickly too!

* Negotiate on your Estate Agents fees. Prices vary wildly depending on where you are and the property you're selling. Our Town has 22 Agencies and going rate here is 1.25% once they've told you they can't charge less than 1.75%! Where we're moving to has 9 and the commission is 2%. I'll worry about that when we sell!

* Work out what you've got to do and keep a careful log of your priorities and outstanding jobs. There are several good websites that will keep an online diary for you such as www.goodmigrations.co.uk via the Freeseve.com site

* Stay in touch with both your solicitor and estate agents each week. Find out what's happened in the last week and see if there is anything you c
an do to speed things up.

* Get a completion date as early as you can and book the removal firm. Don't forget that most people complete on a Friday to give themselves the weekend to get settled. If you're like me, you'll then take some or all of the next week off too. Removal firms are therefore very busy on Fridays, so why not choose a Wednesday or Thursday instead? The added advantage is that there are still working days left if there is some slippage on time. If you miss the Friday you'll have to wait until the next week. Not only because solicitors don't work at weekends, but money can't be moved by banks at that time.

* The biggest problem we've had on all moves are the local searches which are completed by your Local Authority. They clearly don't have the same timetable as the rest of us, so try and get your solicitor to get the searches going as soon as your offer has been agreed. You may have to pay up front for it (around £50 - £100) but it's worth it not to be waiting in the end. The problem is that if the survey is awful and you pull out, it's money down the drain.

What are you more worried about, a week's delay or £75?

* Finally don't forget your life and house insurance. None of us thinks that anything will happen to us, but if it does, be prepared.

Oh yes, BT are unlikely to have your phone working when they said they would so if you have a mobile, make sure it's fully charged!

Have fun.

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