Finding your dream home

Feb 22 2006

By Narin Bahar

Don't waste precious time viewing any old house. Have a think about exactly what you want and need from your new home and give this information to the estate agents. Key questions you may want to ask before viewing: * How many rooms are there, and how big are they? * What kind of property is it - a new building, Victorian, Edwardian? * If it's a flat: top floor or basement? * Leasehold or freehold? Decide what is important to you. Is central heating a deal breaker? How about nearby public transport? Do you need off-road parking, or a garden, or good schools? Thinking of the house specifically, find out if there have been any major works recently - for example if the current owners have installed a new boiler or replaced the roof then it's something you won't have to worry about for a while. If it's a leasehold flat, check how expensive the yearly service charges and ground rents are, and the remaining lease length. What to look for in the property: * The two most important things to consider when viewing are structure and layout. * Look for obvious problems such as damp patches on walls or rotting floorboards. * Diagonal cracks in the ceiling could mean subsidence. * Give the exterior a once-over too - is the façade crumbling? * Try and see through the eyes of a future buyer, is the bathroom in a funny place? Could the attic be converted in the future? * Try also to see past superficial things that can be easily changed, such as naff furnishings, lots of clutter or horrible wallpaper. If you're interested go back for a second viewing to make sure. Talk to neighbours, and visit at different times of day and night to get an idea of the neighbourhood - is there lots of traffic noise at 8am, for example? Look at nearby houses to see if they're well-kept or neglected and make an effort to find out about local leisure facilities, schools and so on. Before you put in an offer, ask the vendor what's included in the price - curtains, lights, white goods like fridges - to save arguments later on.