Estate Agents   |   July 28, 2016   |   ashton

Ask the agent…

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Buying a new home can be one of the most exciting, yet daunting, times of your life. With so much to consider whether its location, price or access to schools and places of work, often some of the finer details can get lost in the excitement. To help ensure you get the home of your dreams, we thought we’d outline some key things to ask your agent before you sign on the dotted line…

A good starting point is to ask how long the property has been on the market? Arguably the most important question of them all, as it can give a good indication to how sought after the potential home is. If it has been on for a while, ask the agent why they think that is or how many viewings or offers there have been. This information can help determine whether there could be room for an offer.

Gaining a good understanding of the local area is key. Enquire about local schools, amenities and transport links, even if you don’t use local transport or have children. It is always useful to know for future reference.

Ask how long have the vendors been at the property, as if it has changed hands repeatedly in a short space of time there may be a reason why. You could also ask why the current owners are moving to potentially gain a better understanding of the home’s strengths or weaknesses.

It is always useful to know if a property is Freehold or Leasehold, as both will provide different options and rights, which may appeal to you. This can also make a difference to the property’s price and appeal in any onward sale.

Remember that often the first viewing is the more ‘emotional’ one – do you like the property, can you see yourself living there and does it excite you? If you like what you see, book a second viewing to go into more detail and to ask the more specific questions even if it relates to how old the boiler is or how regularly is it serviced?

When viewing the property for a second time, we suggest viewing it at a different time of the day. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of which rooms benefit from sun at different times, through to how busy the street is and whether there are any potential issues such as a lack of parking spaces.

If you’re viewing a property for investment or for development potential, ask if the building has had any planning passed, applied for or if there are any boundary issues. It could save any disappointment in the future if planning has already been rejected.

With a network of estate agents across Cheshire, Shropshire and Derbyshire, we have property experts on hand to help with the whole home buying or selling process. With the right help at hand, the whole experience can be an enjoyable and exciting one. So remember, when looking to find the home of your dreams, don’t forget to ask your agent.

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