Our Top 8 Expert Tips When Buying A Property

It’s easy to fall in love immediately with a property and then completely forget to be practical, but by keeping your wits about you and asking the estate agent questions when viewing a property, it is possible to avoid problems.

Buying a property is the biggest purchase of your life, and a small mistake can cost big. Therefore, below we have written up a house-buying guide with our top 10 expert tips to help you when looking at properties for sale in Carshalton. 

Our Top 8 Property Buying Tips

1. Do not look at the house as a home - It isn’t always easy, but on a first inspection try to look at the house only as a building that needs inspecting. Do not get too attached early on or it is possible your heart might rule your head and cause you to completely overlook any issues.
2. Take your time looking around - Make sure you spend a good amount of time when viewing a house, around 20 to 30 minutes is good, so you can really get a feel for the place. Do not be afraid to ask questions either.
3.  Research the local areas - When looking at properties for sale in Carshalton, try to spend some time walking around the general area to see how close the things that matter to you are. Remember to check out public transport links to ensure you and your family can get around easily. If you have children, or thinking of having them in the future, then understanding the catchment areas for particular schools will be vital, which can also push prices up by as much as 5% to 10%!
4.  Look at the whole structure of the building  - Make sure you walk around the house to check the outside. Look for damp and cracks in the walls, missing or loose tiles on the roof and any outdoor issues. If you find signs of a problem, ask questions to find out what the cause is and whether it is fixable.
5. Use your sense of smell - A strange one we know, but be very wary of unusual smells when looking around a property. Damp can give off a musty smell even if you cannot see actual physical signs. If you do spot faults, don’t necessarily be put off buying as you could use what you have discovered to negotiate on the price, depending on how big the issue is and how much it would cost to fix.
6. Check out what’s working inside the property - You will not know whether the lights, electrics, taps or pipes work unless you try them. Also, try opening and closing the windows to check they are in good condition too.
7. Move the furniture around - Did you know the seller does not have to tell you about problems, so they may try to hide them. Some common cover-ups can include painting over damp and hiding wall cracks or floor problems with furniture and rugs.
8. Remember to arrange a survey - You may think you have had a survey, when actually you have just had a mortgage valuation. It is definitely a good idea to get a survey done to uncover any hidden issues with the house that you are buying. If you are buying property in Carshalton, ask us for a home report, which includes a survey.

Looking For Properties For Sale Carshalton?

If you are looking for properties for sale in Carshalton, then Silverman Black is the ideal choice.  We even have entire dedicated guide on our website to buying in Carshalton, Surrey: Property For Sale In Carshalton. Alternatively, call our friendly team today on 0208 773 2929 and we will be happy to talk you through our entire buying process.