If you see something you like, don't try and spend another six months haggling over the price. A hundred pounds here or there is short change when it comes to purchasing a property ticks all the boxes.
Thanks for all the advice. Asked all the right questions, turned the taps on and off...and came out none the wiser lol.
Really like the 3 places I saw last night, all within 10-15 min walk of a station, all within 5-10 min walk from my parents house. One I really did like but then the owner started talking about his reclusive 60 yo neighbour who tends to be a "window twitcher" but means no harm. Ok, everyone is like that to an extent, but when my daughter is going to be playing in the garden, thats the last thing I want next door.
Looking at 3 houses in Dartford tonight...one West Hill way, one just off East Hill and one North East of the station, around Littlebrook Manorway and Wellcome Avenue. Know a bit about the area around East and West Hill but know nothing of Littlebrook Manorway and Wellcome Avenue apart from its up by University Way. Can anyone advise? Had a quick look on street view on Google maps and its just looks pretty bog standard really.
I've just moved five mins away from Wellcome Avenue, walk down there on the way to the station. Local area is fairly average, council estate with lots of now privately-owned houses. Family area mostly. Lot of new builds gone up recently but some parts of the area are not so nice. I walk into Dartford to get the train, takes about 20 mins via Glaxos. Fastrack bus service runs every five mins through the estate and onto Bluewater/Gravesend.
[cite]Posted By: Addickted[/cite]If you like the place and fancy making an offer.......
ENSURE YOU GET A FULL SURVEY OF THE PROPERTY
Will save you a fortune in the long run.
I went down this road and it was a complete and utter waste of cash. Because with a full survey you can sue if they miss something the whole thing was caveated up the wazoo.
The boiler looks fine, but you should consult a certified engineer.
The roof looks fine, but you should consult a roof expert.
The walls look ok, but you need to get a proper structural engineer.
Wiring looks OK, but you need an electrical engineer to properly check it out.
Might as well have burned the cash tbh.
The only question you need to ask is, IS IT HAUNTED!
Actually in all seriousness this site is your friend: Up My Street. You can also check out the prices that people have paid for similar properties in the area.
Anything the seller tells you has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as they're trying to get you to buy it.
go back at night go at a weekend - on your own - and just sit in the car or walk round for 10 minutes just to see what the areas like at different times.... I did with the house I am in now and it was well worth it.
If you buy a house without a full survey - especially the older homes - then you are taking a huge risk because unless you have specialist building knowledge you have no way of knowing if there are serious problems with the house.
Sure, the surveyors DO cover their arses with loads of caveats BUT they also know how to find serious structural problems that you would have no idea about.
What's more, you can use information from the surveyors report to knock money off the asking price.
[cite]Posted By: Ledge[/cite]My one advice is if u find one you really like
go back at night go at a weekend - on your own - and just sit in the car or walk round for 10 minutes just to see what the areas like at different times.... I did with the house I am in now and it was well worth it.
Too right - when we first moved to Nottingham we found an old victorian house we really liked, in fact it almost seemed a steal. We drove back a bit later past the house and to a t-junction and saw a girl on the corner waiting for someone, and another girl waiting for someone and another and another..........
What Ledge said, plus ask about flooding. If you like pets, maybe avoid being on a main road. Oh and check out if your potential garden gets a load of car exhaust fumes, (which has just spoilt my holiday in France).
Saw 2 flats after the game today, the first one had a 4 inch circular hole in carpet right by the front door! Second one was decent though, an ex-council flat. Seeing 4 more tomorrow!
Comments
A hundred pounds here or there is short change when it comes to purchasing a property ticks all the boxes.
Thanks for all the advice. Asked all the right questions, turned the taps on and off...and came out none the wiser lol.
Really like the 3 places I saw last night, all within 10-15 min walk of a station, all within 5-10 min walk from my parents house. One I really did like but then the owner started talking about his reclusive 60 yo neighbour who tends to be a "window twitcher" but means no harm. Ok, everyone is like that to an extent, but when my daughter is going to be playing in the garden, thats the last thing I want next door.
Looking at 3 houses in Dartford tonight...one West Hill way, one just off East Hill and one North East of the station, around Littlebrook Manorway and Wellcome Avenue. Know a bit about the area around East and West Hill but know nothing of Littlebrook Manorway and Wellcome Avenue apart from its up by University Way. Can anyone advise? Had a quick look on street view on Google maps and its just looks pretty bog standard really.
The boiler looks fine, but you should consult a certified engineer.
The roof looks fine, but you should consult a roof expert.
The walls look ok, but you need to get a proper structural engineer.
Wiring looks OK, but you need an electrical engineer to properly check it out.
Might as well have burned the cash tbh.
The only question you need to ask is, IS IT HAUNTED!
Up My Street. You can also check out the prices that people have paid for similar properties in the area.
Anything the seller tells you has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as they're trying to get you to buy it.
go back at night go at a weekend - on your own - and just sit in the car or walk round for 10 minutes just to see what the areas like at different times.... I did with the house I am in now and it was well worth it.
Sure, the surveyors DO cover their arses with loads of caveats BUT they also know how to find serious structural problems that you would have no idea about.
What's more, you can use information from the surveyors report to knock money off the asking price.
Too right - when we first moved to Nottingham we found an old victorian house we really liked, in fact it almost seemed a steal. We drove back a bit later past the house and to a t-junction and saw a girl on the corner waiting for someone, and another girl waiting for someone and another and another..........