Questions To Ask When Buying House...

**The Lone Gunman** · 27 February 2007, 16:58

All boundaries and responsibilty for them marked on deeds.

Rule of thumb. Never buy a new build.

Look at obvious things like miniscule beds to make bedrooms look bigger. Minmal furniture to expose more floor space.

Go find a nice old Edwardian/Victorian in need of some repair. Much nicer and more fun.

**dotnetter** · 27 February 2007, 17:00

- Can you smell next doors tulipter
- How long (walk) to the nearest 24 hour garage
- Chavability of the area
- Do the neighbours have annoying kids that are likely to knock on your door and run away

Well thats the important stuff anyway!

**Bluebird** · 27 February 2007, 17:02

ask about 'common' pieces of land
also does anybody need access to your land for themselves - place I bought a few years back the guy nextdoor had a problem with his water mains and they had to dig up my back garden to sort it !

also if it's new build if there is any "undeveloped" land around find out what it's going to be used for you don't want the nice field next door being used for a young offenders place.

Lastly, if it's the sales people showing you round a new build - don't forget they are sales people - they'll lie through their teeth to get the sale - make sure you ask all the same questions to your solicitor .

**Tool** · 27 February 2007, 17:17

New builds tend to be more expensive. Have a look at other prices for the same kind of house in the area on http://www.houseprices.co.uk/.

**sasguru** · 27 February 2007, 17:19

Originally posted by Sockpuppet

Going to see a house (new build) again on thursday for the "do I put an offer in decision".

What should I be looking to ask about?

So far I have:

NHBC Warranty?
Sizes for appliances (to make sure no daft, odd sized washers needed). Measure the holes in the kitchen.
Phone point (NTL or BT)
Is the "allocated" parking on the deeds
Council Tax Band (and cost for year)
Freehold/Leasehold - Its a house so I'd expect free but there are flats on the same development site so I'd better ask.
A few questions about moving power points etc.
Curtains/Carpers included (they are currently in it)
How does the "you pay the stamp + 5% deposit work"

Is there anything ovbious that i have missed?

Most important:

What is the sound-proofing like! What is the layout of your neighbours flats?
Wll you be able to hear everything they do?

**sasguru** · 27 February 2007, 17:20

Originally posted by The Lone Gunman

Rule of thumb. Never buy a new build.

Go find a nice old Edwardian/Victorian in need of some repair. Much nicer and more fun.

Totally agree.

**Sockpuppet** · 27 February 2007, 17:21

Aye. Thanks for the replies.

There is an undeveloped field at the back, but its bordering a river and looks marsh also this new developement just cut off all the land that they would need for access.

This new build has been built on the site of an old factory so I'm guessing that if they wanted to develop this field they would have done so at that time.

Going on the recomendation of a friend I spent some time there last night as I was passing through at about eight and the area was fairly quiet. Not much going on to be fair. She suggested I spend several hours there at different times of the day to see what the areas like.

It has an age concern so I dont think its a townie hot spot.

I would buy a old place and do it up If I thought that it was worth the time or the money. The older places are going to be larger - this house doesnt win any awards for size but its only for me. Also I think that auction rooms or houses that are ripe for development are snapped up by people that watch too many TV programs.

Plus they are giving me close to £11,000 in equity in the property, stamp duty as well. I know they only add the money to take it away but if the mortgage goes through the house would be worth the higher figure so that is an instant £9k in equity that I would not have if I was buying a older house. Also the £2k in stamp will come in handy.

**Sockpuppet** · 27 February 2007, 17:21

Originally posted by sasguru

Most important:

What is the sound-proofing like! What is the layout of your neighbours flats?
Wll you be able to hear everything they do?

Well I may ask the sister to go next door and start to shout and see if I can hear anything.

**oraclesmith** · 27 February 2007, 17:23

Ask about defects and snagging. Council Tax band.

My wife bought a new build with her previous husband. He got an electric shock putting up a picture ! The electricians had run a mains cable diagonally across the wall. It didn't kill him though, so she only got half the house.

Questions To Ask When Buying House...