Buying Property

There are some simple rules to follow when buying a house:

Follow these simple rules when buying a house:

Get some good advice! Buying a house is the single most expensive purchase any of us are likely to make. Whether you are buying your first house or moving for the umpteenth time, make sure you get some good advice. mousesale staff have a wealth of experience in the property market. We would be delighted to offer you any practical assistance when buying a house - all you have to do is contact us!

How much can you afford? Before you start house hunting, you should work out how much you can afford. Most people buy property with the aid of a mortgage. When buying a house, always leave a contingency amount in reserve for unforeseen expenses. If you have a house to sell, it is always a good idea to get it on the market as soon as possible. Remember that you too can sell your home via mousesale.

Research the market thoroughly. Good old-fashioned High Street estate agents have traditionally been the first port of call when buying a house. However the Internet is changing the way that people buy and sell property.

Decide where you want to live and research the market thoroughly. Login to sites such as www.mousesale.co.uk, www.fish4homes.co.uk and www.hotproperty.co.uk to search 100's of thousands of properties for sale in UK.

The viewing. Once you have found a property for sale that you are interested in, initial contact with the vendor will be via mousesale or email. When buying a house, the vendor will need to know your name, address and contact details. It would be helpful for the vendor to know your current situation. For example, do you have a house to sell? This will be an important consideration should you make an offer to purchase. If you have sold your home, or you are a first time or cash buyer, it can put you in a strong negotiating position.

It's best to arrange the initial viewing at a convenient time for both parties. However any subsequent viewings should be at different times of the day to give you a good feel for the area. You should see the house both in daylight and at night if possible.

If the house requires any work or improvements don't be afraid to take professional tradesmen with you to get a realistic idea of the costs involved and the amount of work required.

Make notes! Don't be put off by the vendor's style of decoration or furniture. It's the house you are buying. Try to imagine yourself living there - with your possessions.

Be aware of any obvious signs of damp or decay when buying a house but always get professional advice on the condition of a property. This is especially important for older properties.

From 14 December 2007 most vendors of homes in England & Wales need to provide purchasers with a Home Information Pack so you will get a lot of useful information about the house you are buying to speed up the buying process. Initially when you are viewing a house you are thinking of buying, take a checklist of questions to ask so you don't forget anything.

Make an offer. Once you have found a suitable house that you are interested in buying, you will need to make an offer to purchase it. The art of good negotiation is for both parties to feel that they have reached an acceptable deal. It is natural to try and get the best price possible when buying a house. However if you think that the asking price of a property is reasonable, so will others. Therefore an offer at or near the asking price is more likely to be acceptable and less likely to lead to disappointment. There are a number of websites that can let you know the price similar houses in the area have sold for. We are able to provide you with a current value for any residential property within England, Scotland & Wales - not what it sold for but what it's worth today!

To add further weight to your offer when buying a property, the vendor will need to know certain information such as whether or not you have a house for sale. Do you require a mortgage? When do you want to move? Provided you can provide satisfactory information, it is not unreasonable once your offer has been accepted to ask for the property to be taken off the market. Some vendors prefer to see a survey or valuation carried out first. If this is the case, make sure you arrange for it to be done as soon as possible.

You will also need to exchange solicitor or conveyancer details with the vendor so that contracts can be issued. However the sale at this stage will be subject to contract, which means that neither party is yet legally bound even though you have reached an agreement in principle.

Apply for a mortgage & instruct a conveyancer/solicitor. At this stage, you will need to apply for a mortgage if required and instruct a conveyancer/solicitor to act on your behalf. The earlier you can do this the better.

Exchange contracts. Once your mortgage application and conveyancing work have been completed, you will be able to sign and exchange contracts.

Set a completion date. Once contracts are exchanged, you can set a completion date and make arrangements to move.

Move in! Move in and start planning that house warming party!

Go shopping! Spend the money you saved by selling your house via mousesale and using our online conveyancing and HIP service on something special!