First time buyer advice
Don't be too eager when buying a house.
Be well prepared for each viewing so that features of various homes are not confused. First time buyers will view many properties before making a decision.
Below is a list of "things to remember" when viewing each house:
- Prior to viewing the property, identify your needs on a wishlist.
- Take a tape measure, flashlight and camera.
- Take down notes about the feature of each room.
- Use the flashlight to see into dark areas, such as the attic or basement.
- If it's a second hand property check for water damage and inquire about recently repaired areas. If a friend is a builder or architect take him/her along when viewing.
- Find out what is included in the purchase price and what is not. Some sellers will include some of their appliances, others will not.
- Be sure of the size of the house. First time buyers will need to ensure that any new property bought is no greater than 125sq metres to qualify for the €3,809 (£3,000) first time buyers grant.
- Measure room sizes. This will help with things like allocating rooms to children, checking where to put different beds etc.
- Inspect all interior and exterior items thoroughly.
- Take pictures of each house and the surrounding homes. These pictures can be valuable later to narrow the selection.
- Take a look around the area because it's just as important as the house and property. Take a picture of the road/street. This will help you compare different areas.
- Ask the seller or agent questions about the condition of the roof, appliances, heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing systems to determine if the house and property have been well maintained.
- When you look at houses keep track of their features. It is easy to become confused after looking at a number of houses.
- Most agents will provide a brochure detailing the features of each property. As you view each property, be sure to detail all the features of the property as they refer to your wishlist of requirements. This will allow you in the comfort of your home to perform a comparative analysis on each property.
New home wishlist
Make a list of the important features and amenities you want your new home to have.
Some items to consider are:
1. How many bedrooms, bathrooms needed?
2. What size and layout of kitchen is needed?
3. Site size required?
4. What type of floors, hardwood, tile, etc?
5. Access to schools
6. Access to public transport
7. Proximity to work.
8. Proximity to local services (shops, churches, cinemas, gyms, doctors etc.)
9. Large furniture considerations. Measure your room sizes now and bring them with you when previewing homes.
Rank these features in order of importance.
If buying a home with a partner create individual lists and then compare the two. This will save time and narrow your search.
Tips when buying a house
- If you have to resell soon, don't buy an unusual home.
- Even if the quality of a school district doesn't matter to you now, remember it might someday to another buyer.
- Never tell a seller's broker how much you'll raise your offer for a particular house.
- Pay attention to floor plans. Changing layouts of rooms later, can be costly.
- Pay attention to the original listing date of the homes you inspect; sellers tend to be more flexible in the price the longer the home is on the market.
- A house that's sited to take advantage of the sun and the wind costs less to heat and cool and can save thousands of pounds over the years in utility bills.
- Buying a house whose style is uniquely individual will probably minimise rather than maximise its resale value because the house will appeal to a somewhat more limited number of potential buyers.
- If you think you may need more space in the near future, be sure the house and site will allow for expansion.
- Location is key. An investment in a good area will protect the future value of your property and generally enhance the quality of your time in the house.
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