Residential Sales


YOUR GUIDE TO BUYING A HOUSE

Whether you are moving across town or across the country, finding a new home involves more than just visiting estate agents and viewing properties. Buying a home usually means making one of the biggest financial commitments of your life, so it is important to make sure that you get the property that is right for you.

WHERE TO BUY AND WHY?

Think about why you are moving. Is it for work, a bigger property, downsizing, or to be near a certain school? Once you have a clear idea of the area in which you wish to buy, start contacting Chris Clubley & Co or visit our website www.chrisclubley.co.uk in order to get an idea of the properties available for your budget and which location best suits your needs.

When you have established where you want to buy and your price range, Chris Clubley & Co can help you begin your search for your new home. We can help you find a new home as well as offering guidance and advice on the local area. We will be able to review your requirements and place you on our mailing list, notifying you when a suitable property becomes available by telephone, email or post. Chris Clubley & Co are part of Home Sale Network which is made up of over 600 independent estate agents, who are handpicked after thorough checks by Cartus; the premier provider of global relocation services. Cartus assists the moves of 140,000+ customers worldwide per year. 

VIEWING PROPERTIES

As soon as you see a property that interests you, contact Chris Clubley & Co and arrange a viewing. Be careful not to leave it too long, as the property could be under offer before you have had a chance to view it. Viewing a property is as much about physically seeing it as finding out more about the street and immediate area. You should always take time and care on a viewing, looking at all aspects of the property and its location.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

  • Structural Issues. A sagging roof line, bulging, stained or cracked walls, uneven floors, badly fitting doors and windows can be a tell tale sign of structural problems and subsidence. You should always seek professional advice in the form of a property survey, Chris Clubley & Co can help guide you through this.
  • Guarantees. Properties that are less than 10 years old should have a guarantee from the National House Builders Confederation (NHBC). Find out if the home owner has guarantees for the heating system, boiler or building work like conservatories and get independent legal advice in respect of the guarantees.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE VENDOR

  • Why are you moving? The vendor might be moving because they have a new job, want to get their children in to a new school, because they need more space or are downsizing. Be alert to any evasive responses which may indicate a different reason.
  • When would you like to move?  If the vendor wants to move quickly perhaps because they are due to start a new job they may be more open to negotiations on the price.
  • How many viewings have they had? Finding out how many people have viewed the property is a great way to gauge the level of interest.