Buying a house is one of the biggest commitments you will make in your life – so it’s no wonder it’s often cited as one of the most stressful undertakings you can do. With this in mind, it makes sense that when you buy your first home you want to make sure you’re being thorough with your research and that you have prepared in advance for everything you are likely to encounter so there are no nasty surprises. So, what should you look out for when buying your first home, and how can Harry McPartland & Sons help?
Use a qualified solicitor who can carry out skilled conveyancing on your behalf
Once you’ve found your dream home and are ready to move things forward, you need to engage the services of a solicitor. Our domestic conveyancing solicitors will take care of all the important stuff like checking right of way and boundary issues, checking planning permission and building control issues, drawing up contracts, liaising with your estate agent and redeeming existing mortgages and registering new mortgages. For the full list of domestic conveyancing services we offer, check out our website or get in touch with us.
Check all the costs involved
Buying a house is expensive, so make sure you have thoroughly checked any additional costs involved such as stamp duty. Normally there is nothing to pay on properties under £125,000 but make sure to check any updates to this legislation, otherwise you could find yourself with an unexpected bill for several thousand pounds.
Development in the area which could impact resell value
It’s always a good idea to familiarise yourself with the area you intend to move to, including any upcoming developments which might impact the resell value should you decide to move house again in the future. These could include new roads or new housing developments. Check with the planning office to see if there are any applications in place at the moment which could be of concern.
Check any alterations done to the property by the current owners
Most people will make some home improvements while they stay in their house, but if you’re moving into a property like this always check to see if the alterations carried out have all been within building regulations. If extensions have been added to the house, such as a conservatory or kitchen extension and these have been done without planning permission there could be subsequent enforcement action by your local council which would require you to rectify building work undertaken, and you would also have to pay for these costs.