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- Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. The best time to buy is when you find your perfect house and you can afford it. If you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out.
- Make a list of the features that are important to you in a house before you start looking. You can categorise these into essential features (e.g. number of bedrooms) and desirable features but not essential. Refer to these lists when looking at properties to see how they match up. Create a checklist of your needs and wants
- It is essential that you know your market. There are several on-line portals to check a specific area, e.g. MyHome and Daft. You can also check out the Property Price Register.
- Note the weather the day you view, it is often a good idea if you are seriously interested in the property returning to view at a different time of day and under different weather conditions. Remember on a rainy day everywhere always looks less enticing, don’t be put off what could be your ideal property.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are viewing a particular property, and express your interest or disinterest.
- Be sure to assess the area to see if you will feel at home there. Check out local facilities such as shops, schools, doctors, and local transport.
- Know what is included in the sale of the property. If there are specific items that you would like included in the sale, ask if this is possible, and if not the vendor may sell them separately. Or, if you want the house to be completely cleared, your Solicitor can arrange for this to be a condition of sale in the contract.
- Beware of hidden Costs. Know the local rate of property tax, water rates, and what service charges are associated with an apartment sale. Ensure your budget will cover these costs. Enquire about any guarantees for any recent work, or new appliances you are shown.
- Enquire about nearby rivers or streams as this could affect the cost of your insurance. In some cases Insurance companies will not insure you if your property is too close to a river.
- Have your Solicitor ready to go when you start the bidding process. A reputable Solicitor is extremely important when purchasing a property, it could mean the difference between a sale going through smoothly or losing the sale completely.
