Buying a house for the very first time can feel stressful as there is a lot of brand new information to absorb and actions to make in a short period of time. With the purchase of your first home being such a big investment, we wanted to offer a range of helpful tips to make the process easier to understand and conquer. When the time comes for you to start your purchasing journey as a first time buyer in the UK, you should have better knowledge of how to navigate the process.
Be prepared and save a deposit. The more you can save, the better, as you also need to
consider the cost of a survey, solicitor’s fees and removal costs. You should also find
out as much as you can about stamp duty before you even think about making an offer. That being said, stamp duty for a first time buyer is only relevant if your purchase is over £250,000.
Make sure you do your calculations and set yourself a strict budget. Don’t overstretch yourself. There’s no point in having a new pad if you can’t afford to pay all the bills or buy the furniture you need.
Be sure to thoroughly research the neighbourhood where you want to live, to make sure it’s the
right place for you. Speak to people in the local area. You could go to a local coffee shop and ask the staff what the area is like. This is a good way to get a feel for the area. If you have
children or hope to start a family, pop in on some local schools and ask them questions.
Once you’ve found a property and location you’re particularly interested in, visit it at different times of the day and week. You might find certain events happen on different days throughout the week that could affect your decision to purchase the property, such as football matches or a nightclub event.
Speak to a mortgage or financial advisor and check out as many deals as you can, to
make sure you choose the best deal for you as a first time buyer looking to invest. Although it’s tempting to go straight to your own bank, a mortgage broker will offer a wider range of options from a variety of different lenders.
Ideally, try and find one on your local high street rather than one far away so you can pop in and see them when necessary. The best way to find a good solicitor is to ask family and friends. Never feel pressured into using a firm recommended by the estate agent. If you’re in the Crosby area, we’re based there so feel free to get in touch.
Once you have a moving date, don’t forget to redirect your mail. A 6-month redirection is a great option!
Be sure to research removal companies. Get organised by packing your belongings into different categories or by room. That way, the removal company can put the boxes into the correct rooms which will save you time and effort on moving day.
When moving house, it’s a good idea to have a separate bag containing things like the kettle, cups, tea, coffee and milk. Moving house is hard work and you’ll need a break when you arrive at your new home!
Finally, get a feel for your home and how you want to use the space before you make any big
decisions. Knocking a wall down might seem like a great idea in the height of summer but
heating a large space in winter will be costly!
Here at Black Norman, we’ve been helping many individuals with their legal decisions for over 30 years and we offer a wide range of services. When it comes to purchasing a property, why not get in touch and see how we could assist. We’re a highly rated residential conveyancing team in Crosby, Liverpool and we are happy to provide you with our service fees for buying a house.
Get in touch with us online or call us on 03300 167 847 where we can help you make better property purchasing decisions.
