About (page 9)

How to Buy a House

The following comprises what I think makes a good plan of things to do when looking for a house. These will probably be the same regardless of your situation. At least, I can't think of any person's situation that wouldn't fit with the plan set out below.

First, make a list of general things that are important. Spend a long while (weeks if not months) expanding and modifying this list. Then prioritise. This is my list, from first priority to last. Note that I'm buying on my own and am intending to travel more than socialise with the neighbours:

• Location (whether it feels right; proximity to M4 and Cardiff)
• Price (affluence, council tax)
• Investment opportunity (desirable place to live keeps house prices going up)
• What the people are like
• Crime (rates; neighbourhood watch scheme in the area - these affect house insurance)
• Near vacinity (shops, walks, pubs)

Next, have a look at what property you want. Things to consider are:

• Terraced, semi-detached or detached
• Freehold or leasehold
• Size - number of rooms, garden
• Garage, driveway or park on road
• Character - older houses tend to be built better and have more character; newer houses will generally have better plumbing, drainage and wiring; new houses have new furnishing, long warranties and should have state-of-the-art heating systems, etc.

There are various sites that will help you with the above:

• For an impression of the location, see upmystreet.com.
• House prices for particular areas can be gauged by typing post codes on the following sites: HomeTrack and BBC.

Page: 9 [ Prev | Next | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Homepage ]