when buying a house?

Question

if you were buying a house, other than the basics, what essential would you personally be looking for that would sway you to buy it?

Answer 1

I bought my first house 3 months ago and I knew as soon as I walked through the door that it was the house for me.

It needs to have that "wow" factor, that little something that just says "Buy me".

Before you even start looking you should have eliminated all the properties that don't fit your basic specification (number of bedrooms, off street parking, etc). Bad bathrooms and out of date kitchens always seem to put people off buying houses, but I think it's nice to be able to put your own mark on the house - as long as you can afford it.

It's surprising what a quick lick of paint can do to brighten up a room!

Answer 2

It depends on your circumstances,If its a family home then the likes of good school,nice neighbourhood,amenities such as nearby Shops, leisure facilities and such would come high on the list as would the ability to extend the property should you require more room.

If single or a couple starting out then I'd look for somewhere with a good liklihood of increasing in value substantially over the next few years as well as transport links,good bars and restuarants and stuff like that.

As for interiors the size of rooms is important and the layout of the house.Things like wood floors and stuff are more or less just decorations.They can be added to properties relatively easily and shouldnt be used to rule a property out.Often if a property doesnt have those things to begin with the price will reflect the dated look of the property,that is if the property had those to begin with they would probably several thousand pounds/dollars/Euros higher than they are currently looking for.

Answer 3

The last time I bought a house I had a clear list of what I wanted. Specific number of bedrooms, bathrooms, detatched or semi, location etc. I was never concerned with it's decor or current state - as this can all be sorted out later. Once you know the basics you want - you can register with online property searches and let your local agents know what you're after - then scrutinise the details they send you on paper before you waste time visiting properties. For me ultimately it came down to overall floor area and garden size. They're the only things you can't really change.

Answer 4

It depends on what you already own. Get carpets, curtains, light fittings, mirrors, and anything else you like included in the selling price. You might want a garage, a high fence around the garden, a view where no developers are going to build, loft conversion, cellar conversion, large windows you can open wide enough to sit on the window sill looking out, stairs that lead straight out of a door in case of fire, extra bedrooms, a conservatory, a manageable garden, freedom from noise and pollution, the ability to exchange contracts and complete quickly, bult-in wardrobes - and I would not buy a house where the previous occupants owned pets.

Answer 5

I am looking to buy a home as we speak and some of the things that i am looking for are the sizes of the rooms, the convienence of the layout of the home and the size of the yard for my kids to play in. I am big on space. If the bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, etc are not big enough i am turned off by it because i don't like to feel crowded. I also have 3 kids so bedrooms all on the same floor is cool and first floor laundry is a plus. The yard needs to be big enough for my kids to play comfortably in. Hope this helps some.

Answer 6

location...what the neighbourhood is like. Drive about at night to see what comes out of the woodworks. I bought a house and was so sorry afterwards. I had eggs thrown at my window, a whole tin of coca cola nearly smashed it too. Builders sand was thrown on my car...this was all kids getting up to mischief. Then my neighbours kids started throwing dog mess into my garden as they were too lazy to throw it in the bin. I eventually moved away after two years of hell. Dont look at the decor that can always be changed and to be honest each person has their own taste so you will probably change it anyway.

Answer 7

Location is a big factor. Resale potential is another. I would need to be satisfied with the inspection, survey and title work. Termite inspection would need to be satisfactory. Those items would be essential before I would be interested. After that, it's just a matter of taste and how much you can buy! Good Luck!

Answer 8

When I brought mine I wanted somewhere that had gas central heating, a reasonable size garden and some place where parking wasn't a problem. Along with the normal - size of rooms, layout, OK condition etc.

Answer 9

What are the basics??

There are many things I looked for when I recently purchased my home.

1. Flat level Property
2. Neighborhood
3. Schools
4. Fireplace
5. Hardwood floors

Answer 10

You can always change and improve the house but you cannot make the lot bigger or change the location. These I would say are the most important things.