10 Things To Look For When Buying a House

For most people buying a house is a big decision, being the biggest purchase someone will make in their life. Below are ten things to consider when purchasing a property:

1. How far is the property from work? For most people the maximum commuting time they would tolerate is about an hour. Is the property within an hour's drive of your or your partner's workplace? If not, consider moving closer, or, if you are set on moving to the area or house, changing job.

2. What about parking? Some properties have parking, some dont. Make sure if you need to drive that you have access to at least on street parking nearby. It may be that you don't have or need a car (for example if you live in London), in which case, take note of the third point in this list.

3. Does the property have good transport links? Is the property near to the train or tube station, motorway, and airport? If commuting and business travel is a big part of your life then the transport considerations will be of vital importance.

4. Does the area have good schools in the area? If you are a parent, then the schools in the area will likely be of great interest to you. Since schools tend to be better in rural rather than urban areas, then if your kids education is important to you and you can choose where to live, then a move to the country could well be a wise move.

5. How far is it from town? If you're a young person looking for good nightlife, then a move to the inner city could be what you are looking for. However, if you are looking to have a more quiet life then the quieter suburbs could be for you.

6. Which way does the garden face? For sun worshippers this is a key factor. A south facing home will get more sun than a north facing one. Hence if you are one for spending time in the garden during the summer having barbeques etc.. than a south facing garden is what you need.

7. Talk to the neighbours - Sometimes the best way to find out about a neighbourhood is to ask people that live there. Start with homes adjoining your prospective home; you might find out that there is a noisy neighbour two doors down that the vendor didn't happen to mention.

8. See the property more than once - On first viewing, the lounge may seem spacious, but on second viewing, it may seem less so. Buying a property after viewing it just once may be a risky venture.

9. Quiz the sellers - Find out what problems they have had with the house, even if they have been fixed. They might tell you about potential flooding in the area, or they might not. However, if they don't tell you about something to do with the house than turns out to be a problem, then you have grounds for legal action.

10. Consider the potential of the house - many buyers these days are looking for potential for improvement to a property when purchasing property. Whether it is adding a conservatory, an extra bathroom or an extra bedroom, buyers are on the lookout for adding value to their property. Keep home improvements in mind when buying a property.