Buying a new home for the first time is huge, which is why you want to tick every box you have - and especially the ones you haven't created yet. Not only is budgeting, negotiating, and buying a big component of buying a home, finding and double-checking its health and safety is as well.
There are so many things you need to do during house hunting and before you buy. To help ensure you get through all of them we have put together this guide:
Tips for Finding Great Properties
1. Go to Your Council
Go the council or planning office and see what investments are being made in the area. Though it may take years and in-between you'll have to deal with construction, a big development will mean your home will be priced well and soon be located in a prime location.
2. Don't be Afraid of Renovation
A lot of homes will not look their best unless you are buying new. If you are buying an old home expect to not be completely blown away by how it looks, especially if your budget isn't reaching the million mark. Changing the floors, repainting the walls - these are budget-friendly and easy to do and shouldn't be the reason you turn down a great home.
3. House Hunt at the Right Time
There are two things to consider:
House hunting during the low season could fetch you a better price
House hunting during high seasons will give you more options.
4. Create and Add to a List of Musts
Write up a list of things you must have. Include features you loved in your home growing up and annoyances you have had (and write down their solutions) for any flats you've rented over the years.
Tips to Keep Prices Low
To keep the price of your property low, whether you buy a new build or not, is rather simple:
1. Buy at the Right Time
For first time buyers, it is always wise to save and wait until the housing market is in your favor. This way, you won't pay a premium on a building that isn't typically worth that much.
2. Take Advantage of the Help to Buy Scheme
Another great way to keep the price low is to look into the Help to Buy Scheme. In this scheme, the government will loan you from 20% of the price of the home to 40% (if you are in London). With Help to Buy you can easily budget for and afford a stunning new Redrow home development and save big! Since it's new, no renovations will be needed, and you can get started on your new lives right away.
3. Build Up Your Credit
If you are waiting for the housing market to cool off, take the time to build up your credit rating. Anything to keep your interest rate as low as possible is going to be a huge plus.
Request a Home Buyers Survey
This should be done for new and old homes to ensure that they are perfect, healthy, and ready to move in to. If there are any issues, you can then request they are fixed before you move in or use it to negotiate the price lower. After all, every penny saved is a penny you can use towards making your new house a home.
