DON'T PANIC (How to buy a house)

Member Name: Ophelia

Product:	How to buy a house
Date:	20/03/02 (358 review reads)
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I thought it only appropriate to entitle my opinion in a similar manner to the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. When moving house is involved the large letters D-O-N-T-P-A-N-I-C must be at the forefront of your mind.

As I sit at my computer surrounded by boxes filled with my life’s possessions, having just been on the phone to the removal men to tell them that my move has been postponed, never has this been more true!

So, what can be done to minimise the stress?

HOUSE SEARCH

When you first start looking for a house the first thing to do is register with some estate agents in your area. You will find that if you are a first time buyer houses come and go very quickly and often by the time you receive the details the house has already been sold. I would, in these circumstances, advise phoning up your list of estate agents every week. This may seem like doing their job for them but otherwise I can guarantee that you will be waiting for a new abode for a very long time!

By the way, as a little aside, have you ever noticed that out of the solicitors, removal men and estate agents who are involved in a house sale or purchase it is the estate agents who get paid the most and yet seem to do the least? Payment inversely proportionate to the amount of work you do – sounds good to me!

The local newspaper is a very good source for browsing. If you don’t get a freebie through your door (you know – the ones you use to line the cat’s litter tray), these can normally be purchased from local newsagents. As well as flicking through the property pages, also turn to the personal ads section as some people do try to sell their own houses without the intervention of an estate agent (with fees of around 2% it is not difficult to understand why).

The internet is now becoming a more useful source in this modern technological age. Most estate agents have their own websites and usually
these include photos and details of the houses they currently have on the market. Most sites also have a useful search engine to narrow the houses shown to your specifications. This is also an extremely useful source to browse if you are moving out of your area.

LOOKING

You have seen a house you like the look of and have arranged to go to see it. Preparation is necessary before turning up on the doorstep.

Ensure that you see the house at some point in the daylight, so that you can get a clear look of the outside of the house, the neighbourhood etc. Think of a list of things which you want to take a close look at (think of things that are wrong with your own house, which you wouldn’t want to put up with again). My list would include:

- Are wooden window frames and fascias rotting?
- Is the garden secluded?
- What do the neighbours’ houses look like (are they going to be okay to live near)?
- Are there any leaks under basins?
- What condition are the carpets in?
- Are the boundary fences/walls in good condition?

These are all things that need to be examined and yet, while you are looking around a house with the pressure of the presence of the agent or owner, it is easy to forget to even look under your feet at the carpet. So, make your list, take it with you and tick it off.

If you are seeing several houses it is obviously going to be important for you to remember the features of each one. Take the house particulars with you and make notes on them or, even better, do a little plan of each room with notes as to the condition of the carpets, windows, walls, whether there are fitted wardrobes, plug points etc. If you have the benefit of a digital camera it would be good to take this with you to take a few snapshots.

Don’t be afraid to visit more than once or to ask the owners questions about the house or neighbours. Although they may not tell the truth, the whol
e truth and nothing but the truth, you may get a feeling if a porkie is floating in your direction, which would put you on your guard.

SOLICITOR

Once you have found the house you want to purchase the next step must be to find a solicitor to do your conveyancing. Don’t play with the idea of doing your own conveyancing; I have studied the subject and it is hideously boring, complex and it can only lead to your head exploding with stress. My husband is doing our conveyancing this time and has already sworn ‘never again’ (in actual fact, that is not all he has sworn!). For the sake of a few hundred quid the peace of mind a solicitor can bring is well worth the effort and just think how cheap it is compared with those darned estate agents!

Ask friends for recommendations of firms, phone round for quotes or, if all else fails, ask the estate agents for recommendations.

SURVEYOR

If you are arranging a mortgage it is certain that your lenders will want you to get a valuation and this must be by the surveyor that they specify. The choice is, therefore, somewhat taken out of your hands. However, a mere valuation is not really of any use to you. Speak to the surveyor in question and ensure they carry out what is called a ‘Home Buyers Report’. This is a basic survey (full surveys are very expensive and only really needed if there is something unusual about your property or if there is something which is already concerning you) and will give you information as to any repairs that will need doing. This report will cost you in the region of £300 but is worth every penny if it reveals something which might cost thousands of pounds to put right.

PACKING

As the time of your move draws near you will need to face the hideous prospect of packing up ten-odd years of junk (or however many years it is since you last moved). Before you even open a box, go through all your belongings and sta
rt being generous to your local charity shop. Be vicious; will you really use that inflatable sheep you were given at the office Christmas party? Remember – the more you send to the charity shop, the less you will have to pack (and that is incentive indeed).

There are three alternative methods to packing:

1. Be organised, methodical, carefully wrap breakables, spread heavy and light objects throughout the boxes.

2. Get absolutely off your face on a bottle of whisky and do the packing. Don’t worry about wrapping etc – just get it done.

3. Pay the removal men to do the packing for you.

REMOVALS

Which brings me nicely on to my next topic. You can, of course, move yourself. Hire a transit style van for approximately £50 for the day, bribe a few friends to help you and away you go.

However, these leads to a very long, exhausting day and after doing it that way the last time I have decided to splash out and get some men in to move for me this time. So, call about three firms and ask them to come and give you a quote. This will also solve the problem of packing; no trips to local supermarkets begging for cardboard boxes will be necessary, as most removers provide you with boxes.

Get quotes from various different companies. Try well-established large firms like Pickfords and also your friendly local man with a van. There will be a variance in price, so it is worth shopping around. Pickfords quoted me £300 - £400 and so I went with a small independent firm for £250 (to move the contents of a 2 bedroom house).

THE DAY

Make sure that you have not packed your kettle, tea bags or milk, as your removal men will not thank you and may even go on strike.

Get up early, pack away your toothbrush, await the removers, have a shot of vodka and keep your fingers crossed for a relatively stress-free move!

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