Questions to ask When Buying a House in Leeds

For some home buyers and movers, their mortgage journey may come with its hurdles, making the process a little bit stressful. As a Mortgage Broker in Leeds, we can understand this which is why we work hard to make the process go as efficiently as possible.

Following we have compiled 9 questions that are essential to ask when buying a house in Leeds to help you with your next house viewing:

1. How much interest has there been in the property/development?

Newly built properties have become increasingly popular which means if you are interested in purchasing a newly built home you will have to be fast to secure one.

We tend to find most home buyers utilise one of the many schemes in Leeds, which provides additional support to First Time Buyers in Leeds to get a step closer to the property ladder.

Once you know the number of people who have viewed or enquired about the property, it will enable you to extinguish how long you need to think and decide if you want to proceed.

On the other hand, this does not always mean that older properties are not selling any quicker. We recommend you are prepared to act swiftly for properties with a lot of interest.

2. Is there a chain?

Whether the property is a part of a chain or not will have an enormous impact on many aspects of your buying experience.

In the case where there is no onward chain, there is more of a chance that you will be able to move in quickly if you are not part of a chain yourself. Buyers who don’t need to sell their property first can be seen as more favourable to sellers.

This is because you won’t be holding up the buying process and can be a good point to make in the negotiating process for sellers who are looking to move into a new home. If this is your situation, use it to your advantage when negotiating.

3. What’s included in the sale?

For buyers who have been looking to purchase a new build property, it is common to find that previous owners have left some items behind.

Most of the time, these items include white goods and sheds and are available within the deal. This can be super helpful for many buyers, however, if you decide you do not want these items, you can dispose of them.

Sometimes, new build properties do offer optional extras you can buy and will be ready for you on the day you move in.

4. What are the neighbours like?

Being friendly with your neighbours can be important. It’s something that many people overlook but it can make or break a homeowners living experience.

If you are moving into a new development, it will be a fresh start for everyone, giving you the scope to create a friendly community.

5. How much does it cost to run?

Running costs can vary from house to house. We always recommend doing research and asking the right questions. Examine the price of Council Tax and the average spend on utilities, you can do so by asking a seller or researching online. By doing this, you can estimate a rough budget for each property.

6. Which way does the house face?

If you are looking for a south-facing garden, this may come at a premium cost because you’re going to receive the most sun all day.

7. How much work will be required after moving in?

This is something that could majorly affect your budget. Factors to find out include:

  • Improving energy efficiency
  • Addressing damp problems
  • Modifying the décor

8. Are you open to offers?

Intended for first time buyers in Leeds, this may be difficult, especially for those new in the process and have zero mortgage experience. Therefore, Home Movers may have more of an advantage.

Negotiating regularly happens within the house-buying process. With that in mind, it can be key to learn how to make an offer on a property if you are interested in order to act swiftly.

We recommend talking to the seller or estate agent to see what is seen as too low or too high and see whether any other offers have been made or rejected.

9. When can we move in?

When you have decided on a property, it’s then time to see when you can start making the place your home. This may have been mentioned briefly when asking some of the questions earlier on in the process.

However, having an official date in your calendar means you can plan the other jobs you need to do like instructing a conveyancing solicitor, sorting out your belongings and arranging a removal van.

Trusted Mortgage Advice in Leeds

We hope this list of questions to ask when buying a house can help you through the buying process. If you are interested in help and support through your homebuying journey, book your free mortgage appointment with us and we can provide you with the open and honest Mortgage Advice in Leeds.

Date Last Edited: February 19, 2024