First time

First Time Buyers. What else?

Why is it that no one is brutally honest about what it's like to buy -or move in to- a new place? Why don't we learn any of this at school, college or university? 

Here are things we found out ourselves and would have found useful to have to refer to beforehand... I'm writing them down so I don't forget, but also in case it is helpful for anyone else in the future!

Is there a checklist?

A) Viewings

This is the definition of a numbers game. Play the game, go to loads of viewings. We were probably on 40 or so before we found one that really worked for us (ok, maybe it was more like 10 but it felt like 40).

Viewings don't really take more than 10-15 mins on average. By the third viewing, all questions were second nature rather than an act. Notes to self: Try to go to viewings after work or early on weekends. Don't try to fit loads on 1 day because it's likely the agent(s) will save the best until last, showing you a few dud ones first so you end up thinking the last is everything you've ever wanted and more. Or, if jumping between agents, it's likely you'll be so tired by the end that your expectations will be much lower than if you were fresh faced. 

If you like the place, get a second viewing with the owner, not the agent. 

The first place we liked and put an offer down on, we didn't get. No one does. Unless you're super lucky - in which case buy a lottery ticket too! 

What we originally thought we were looking for when we first started, changed over time. "Definitely a garden" quickly turned in to "somewhere easy to maintain while working long hours". "Traditional with character" turned into "somewhere that isn't falling down and doesn't need months of work before it's liveable". 

B) What to check for yourself
-Height of the toilet + use the flush.
-Turn the shower on and off.
-Turn the lights on. Do all the bulbs work/why not?
-Where are the light switches?
-Where are the plug sockets?
-Do the electrics cut out / why?
-Do the bathroom extractor fans work?
-Where does the sun come in?
-How do the windows open?
-Was the property ever owned by the council?
-Who are the neighbours?
-Parking? Where can guests park?
-When was the boiler last serviced?
-Storage?
-Nearest train station and bus stop?
-Nearest convenience store?
-Test the locks on the doors, how many keys are there for each?
-Postbox
-Why is the owner selling?
-What is included in the sale?
-How long as the property been on the market?
-When do the sellers need to move out (will the sale be part of a chain)?
-Try the taps
-Where are the heaters, are they all connected by the same source?


C) Mortgage broker

I was recommended one through my workplace, and I am so glad. So helpful, and at no cost to us - the buyers. We had the best mortgage offer of all those that we found on comparison sites within 24 hours from Charles Cameron & Associates (Thanks Laura!). 

The best thing we did was not to look for properties within the price range of the best / highest mortgage we were being offered. Instead, we deducted monthly saving targets and preferred monthly disposable income needed to maintain our lifestyles. Whatever was left was then how much we were willing to spend on monthly mortgage payments.

It's obvious that most come to this conclusion after some thought, but wouldn't it be great if we knew it to begin with?


D) Solicitors
Choose someone recommended, quick and convenient to visit. We didn't necessarily need to visit the estate agent's office before completion (to pick up the keys) nor the mortgage broker. It was necessary to visit the solicitor's office to go through the paperwork and sign the legal documents. Again, if you're in NW London and looking, ours was great - R. R. Sanghvi & Co (Thanks Nita!).


E) Timeline
We were viewing on and off for over a year. Found an ideal place in Aug, offered a week after our third viewing on Sept 13th (two more conversations and our final offer was accepted the next day on Sept 14th) and then completed 11 weeks later, on Nov 30th.


F) Furniture
-Bed frame, Bed Slats, Bed Midbeam
-Mattress (Spring or Foam)
-Duvet/pillows/covers
-Sofa
-Cushions
-Coffee table
-Tv stand
-Clocks
-Chairs / sofa chairs
-Dining table
-Table cloth (don't get white unless you're looking forward to having to replace it quickly!)
-Cutlery including wooden spoons, knives, chopping board, measuring cup and grater
-Placemats and coasters
-Bins inc. recycling bins
-Bin liners
-Cutlery divider for cutlery drawer
-Washing up liquid / sponges
-Kitchen towels
-Towels and door hooks
-Bath mats
-Clothes cupboards and hangers
-Laundry baskets
-Ironing table (and cover if it's seperate) and Iron
-Ladder / light bulbs
-Hoover (most powerful handhelds only have up to 30 mins battery life, not helpful if you have more than a 2bed)
-Stepladder (trust me it's so handy)
-Toolbox
-Tv
-Mirror
-Clothes rack
-Kettle/Toaster/Breadbin
-Shoe rack
-If not included in a fitted kitchen: washing machine/dryer, fridge/freezer, dishwasher


G) Additional paperwork
-Mortgage (of course)
-Wifi (don't even get me started on the mess that TalkTalk put us through - but it all worked out in the end)
-TV licence and package
-Council tax
-Water bill
-Gas & Electric
-Flat only: ground rent + service charge (property mgmt company)


Hope this helps for the future!


Yours Truly,
TML