Hi all

Im after some general advice here.

My sis has pointed me in the direction of what seems to be a nice house, in the village where i currently live with my parents.

Its a 2-bed terrace with "A loft terrace" whatever that is, and its on the market for £59,500 which is easily within my budget.

Ive not viewed the property yet, but will be doing soon hopefully.

I have many questions which i hope you can answer, as ive never done this before!

1) What sorts of things should I be looking for when I go for a viewing? Im worried about the low price.
2) How do I get a mortgae - and what type should I get?
3) I dont want to live on my own, so what are my options - Can I get a lodger or is this more hassle than it's worth??
4) Furnishings/Carpets/etc - Best place to buy!?

Im sure I will have many more, but any useful tips from experienced home buyers (if there is such a thing!) or those who have bought for the first time recently would be welcome!

I feel all grown up now! :)

Viewings: Before you get in look at the exterior. Any missing tiles, saggy roof, dodgy guttering, missing pointing? Any obviously wonky walls or cracks? (Minor cracks do not necessarily mean bad news.)

The general area, does it look cared for? Or does next door have an abandoned Morris Marina on bricks in the garden and do the neighbours sit on the front step drinking Carling Black Label? Can you park anywhere? Is there a bus stop outside the front door, which local yoofs will congregate at? Ditto pub/shops etc. Ask what the neighbours are like. (The vendor has to declare problems with neighbours as part of the paperwork, and there is a potential come back against them if they tell you fibs...) Is the house freehold? Council tax band etc...

Inside. Smell. Any damp? Room sizes and "flow" of the house. Don't forget you'll probably want to flog it at some point. Electrics. When was it las re-wired? Are there enough sockets? (You can never have too many...) Radiators, are there enough and in good condition. How old is the boiler/gas fire etc, and has it been serviced? The windows. If double glazed, are they still under guarentee? Are they hazy or misted? Cracks in wall or ceiling? Fine cracks are pretty normal I'd say, but if in doubt check it out! (Much as I dislike surveyors, you can get one and then if they drop a clanger you can sue 'em :P) Do all the doors shut? Bathroom and kitchen in a reasonable state and not too dated?

Mortgage: Horses for courses. Impossible to advise without knowing your exact financial status or future plans. We have a variable tracker, which is great as we're only paying 0.9% interest on a repayment mortgage at present.

Lodger: Unless you really need the money, it wouldn't be for me. Even people you think you know well are a different animal when you live with 'em. Again, each to their own. Also, until you actually own a house, you don't realise how much time goes into their upkeep. Decorating etc will keep you occupied for some time.

Furnishing/Carpets: I'm a stripped floor fan myself. But when I have bought carpets it's been from various places, so just shop around. Same with furniture. It's fashionable to knock IKEA, but you could do worse than pay them a visit. They vary from excellent to crap and all points inbetween.

But most of all, good luck and enjoy! :o

It's certainly a good time to be buying, although consider that interest rates are artificially low at the moment and will go up this year, which will make your repayments go up (unless you get a fixed rate mortgage). Don't forget to budget for everything - gas, electric, insurance, water, TV license, council tax; maybe even a home-care type package for your boiler.

When viewing the place, don't be afraid to have a good look round. Open the kitchen cupboards and make sure they look sturdy and not likely to need replacing in the next year or so (made this mistake myself). Same goes for the bathroom - does it look well fitted? Have a look at the ceiling in the room under the bathroom for any damp spots - or signs of it having only just been repainted. Find out what, if any, appliances are included and make sure they look likely to last. Ask about the boiler and when it was last serviced. Have a good look at the double glazing and check for any signs of misting inside the units, or damp around the edges. Use your nose! See if the house smells OK - daft as it sounds any problems like damp will leave a musty odour which could prove expensive to put right (although don't worry too much as a survery would pick this up).

From the outside... If it's rendered or pebble-dashed, make sure it's not flaking or coming away from the walls. If it's brick have a look at the 'pointing' - the mortar between the bricks; it should be flat with no big holes or bits coming away. Look at the roof for any missing tiles. Also have a look at your neighbours houses - if it's a terrace you'll be able to hear them, so if there's empty beer cases and an old mattress dumped in their front garden you probably won't want them as neighbours! I'd also try walking past mid way through a Friday night when the people won't be expecting viewings and see what the street seems like then. I'd take a friend or family member who has bought houses or knows a bit about DIY along with you.

Mortgages... Try speaking to a mortgage broker as they'll be able to asses which are the best deals for you. They normally work by getting a fee from the mortgage provider so you don't pay anything.

No idea about lodgers so can't help you there!

As for shops for furnishings... As with anything, buy the best you can afford and prioritise. So try buying a good quality sofa and bed (so avoid the likes of DFS and anywhere which always seems to be having a sale) and try looking at proper seasonal sales in better quality places. For less important furnishings, places like Ikea and Dwell (wich is more modern) are great - plenty of range and reasonable enough quality for the money. For electricals try using sites like Kelkoo to find the best deals.

Good luck with it!

Can't add much to the above really, all good sound advice.

Don't rush into it.

Contact the estate agent to see if there have been any offers, how long its been on the market, vendors position etc..

Take someone with you for the viewing and make sure its in the daylight.

Ask why the vendor is moving, what the neighbours are like, not that they will say anything bad about them, when any work has been done and if they have receipts etc.. Also if they had any structural work done or extensions etc.. especially the 'loft terrace' which I think is a small balcony built into the roof, tat they had planning permission and building regs approval.

If you want to put an offer in make it a cheeky one unless they have other offers. You can always increase it.

Good luck

Have you got a link?

Thanks for the responses so far. The property is this one: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28127183.html

It looks pertty good from the photos, but you always see things differently in person. Its a vacant possesion too, with a downstairs bathroom.

Thanks for the responses so far. The property is this one: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28127183.html

It looks pertty good from the photos, but you always see things differently in person. Its a vacant possesion too, with a downstairs bathroom.

It looks reasonable, but as you say you really need to see it in the flesh.

I notice that next door has a 2 storey extension. Whilst not a guarentee, it would look like you may be able to get permission to do a similar extension yourself if you wanted to, and if it were financially viable. You may not get the cost of it back in the increased value of the house.

Thanks for the responses so far. The property is this one: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28127183.html

It looks pertty good from the photos, but you always see things differently in person. Its a vacant possesion too, with a downstairs bathroom.

All looks pretty neat - and new which is nice.

With it being vacant you can have a proper root around. I'd have a good look at the roof of the kitchen/bathroom bit. Flat roofs are notorious for leaking so check inside and out for any signs of this. That said, just getting the entire roof resealed if it went in a few years isn't hugely expensive so wouldn't put me off.

I'd echo GrannyGranny and say make a cheeky low offer if no other offers have been received. £60k sounds reasonable for the area (http://www.zoopla.co.uk/home-values/south-yorkshire/cudworth/jackson-street/S72-8UR/), but if whoever is selling is in a hurry they may take a few thousand under. Unfurnished properties often attract lower bids as it's harder to imagine it as your home - hence why show homes are decorated and furnished.

Looks in a reasonable condition from the outside. It's had a refurb by either a developer or landlord by the looks of it. 3 key things to check would be Roof, Boiler and Electrics. These are expensive to replace and more often than not neglected by developers looking for a quick buck.

why do all the appliances and bathroom say 'do not use' have the utilities been disconnected? Might be somehthing to ask the agent.

The "loft terrace" might be estate agent speak, something to do with building regs compliance. ie it looks like there's a room up there - it has a window, but does it have a staircase with a door and have the attic floor/first floor ceiling joists been replaced or supported by extra beams as they should. Probably it's a dodgy conversion and is not compliant hence can't actually be called a room so they call it a terrace.

why do all the appliances and bathroom say 'do not use' have the utilities been disconnected? Might be somehthing to ask the agent.



I think this is because they're brand new, something to do with the warranty. You often see this on refurbished properties where the appliances have been replaced. I could be mistaken, but this is what I've always taken it to mean.

In the photos there are signs on the Hob and a tap saying "Do Not Use", what's that about?

It looks like the house has been refurbed in order to sell, which could well be a good thing.

I'd be interested to see when it was last sold and for how much. Do you have the house number? Looking at the land registry those terraces were changing hands for 70 to 80 k for the last few years, so 60k is a bit of a discount. Number 16 sold in Mar 2009 for 70k, that was the most recent sale.
Go back a little bit further though and they were going for much less, 26k in Dec 03, 35k in Aug 04, 16.5k in Jul 01!!!
Some of them have changed hands quite a few times in the last decade...

http://www.nethouseprices.com/index.php?con=sold_prices_street_detail

Is it a repossession? They have signs on all electric, gas and water appliances saying do not use.

Nobody has mentioned it so far, so I just thought I'd point out the "do not use" notices on the appliances and services.

I wondered about the "Do not use" on all the appliances, and in the bathroom. I assumed it was becuase the fittings were all new, and that no one is currently living there?

Do you know the house number Avalon?

I would have move the bathroom uppstairs personally and reduced the size of the 2nd bedroom making the kitchen diner a more usefull size but it still looks ok from the photos.

This might be useful as well

http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?q=jackson+street+cudworth

Looks like a Repo to me, the do not use stickers are because the gass and electric will have been shut off, i would also offer under asking price as the morgage comanie usually take lower offers if you are in a good position to move e.g FTB. beware though because some companies don't take the property off the market untill exchange therefore someone could outbid you at the last minute.

Do you mean bought as a repo by a developer, refurbished and sold on?

asin repossession, usually after the morgage company take the house they contract it out to an estate agent to sell on thier behalf

infact if you look carefully at one of the pictures you can see they have too away a panel to get at the gas shut off. ( picture of the front room)

Yerp it is because its also on the market with halifax estate agents aswell as your move estate agents, just google the address.

Do you know the house number Avalon?

Im afriad not. I only have as much information as is on ther website currently.

Phone up and find out (if you've time), I'm intrigued as to how much and when it last sold.

Yerp it is because its also on the market with halifax estate agents aswell as your move estate agents, just google the address.

Yeah, looks like they might be selling it at only a slight loss too. I'd start 10K under asking see what they say.

Phone up and find out (if you've time), I'm intrigued as to how much and when it last sold.

£65,000 the house number is on the Halifax site http://www.halifaxhomefinder.co.uk/HxHfDetails.asp?ref=19824842000

It also says at the bottom selling on behalf of HBOS.

21 Jackson Street,
Cudworth,
Barnsley,
South Yorkshire,
S72 8UR £65,000
Terraced
Freehold
Not New Build 20-Feb-2006
Map (S72 8UR)

Any previous sales must have been before 2000.

Also, if you like it, go back for a second viewing, but try and make this at a different time of day e.g. durign evening rush hour or on a weekend, to try and see how the area changes - remember you will be living there all through the week so seeing it on a perfect sunny week day may not give you the complete picture.

Ive phoned the estate agent and they have said this is a "corporate" property and that there is a "sale going through on it at the moment" and unless i could offer a percentage higher than the current offer and had the mortgage in place now there was little point.

However they have made me an appointment to go in and see their mortgage specialist to see what my other options are.

They may say a percentage higher, but to be honest anything higher will do, the company selling the property wants as much money as possible, if they wont tell you what the other offer is then just start low and go up in small amounts because they have to tell you if your the offer is the current highest. my advise get a viewing quickly and get an AIP(mortgage agreement in principle) from a bank or financial advisor quickly, that way you can say look i'm in a good position and want to be in this property ASAP. If you dither about you'll more than likely loose it think you just need to be brave and take the bull by its horns.

Hi, you can give me a call for any mortgage advice required.

I am a whole of Market broker. 07515366251 or drop me a pm for a quick chat.

Danny

infact just had a thought why not ring the other agent they will be dying to get you round. did you ring halifax or YOUR HOME?

I am genuinely surprised that you can buy any house in reasonable condition for £59,500 anywhere these days. Where I live you would be lucky to buy a garage for that much - and even in less desirable areas I would have expected even a two bedroom terrace to go for significantly more.

It reminds me of when Jeremy Clarkson visited the Earth Centre in Doncaster and commented on the exorbitant amount they charged him for a packet of crisps by saying that 'you can buy a house for less round here'. Evidently, he wasn't far off.

Its in an ex coal mining area with high unemployment and with many families living off benefits. Education standards are below average (as is most of SY) and prospects for young people is limited. Since the demise of the coal mining industry and heavy industry as a whole in south yorkshire places like this have struggled to supply alternative employment oppurtunities especially locally. Hence the low prices due to low demand for private housing.
This isn't meant to cause any offence to the OP, its a general comment.

Do they have to tell you if your offer is the highest?

Do they have to tell you if your offer is the highest?


yer otherwise you wouldn't even know you were buying it? :confused:

Up my street is handy for finding out what property in an area is fetching and also for the history of sales for an individual house. (http://properties.upmystreet.com/house-prices/details-21-jackson-street-location-s72-8ur-id-4119853.html)

Ive phoned the estate agent and they have said this is a "corporate" property and that there is a "sale going through on it at the moment" and unless i could offer a percentage higher than the current offer and had the mortgage in place now there was little point.

However they have made me an appointment to go in and see their mortgage specialist to see what my other options are.

Still sounds and looks like a repo to me.

Be careful with repossession properties, as you have 28 days to complete in and the house remains on the open market - e.g. if someone came in and gave an offer of £5k more on the 27th day, you may still have to pay solicitor fees and surveyors etc.

I am genuinely surprised that you can buy any house in reasonable condition for £59,500 anywhere these days. Where I live you would be lucky to buy a garage for that much Buts that's in Whirlow. Climb off your ivory tower and see how the other half live!


Hi all

Im after some general advice here.

My sis has pointed me in the direction of what seems to be a nice house, in the village where i currently live with my parents.

Its a 2-bed terrace with "A loft terrace" whatever that is, and its on the market for £59,500 which is easily within my budget.

It looks like you have missed out on this one from previous postings, but my advice is keep looking. As one door closes another one opens.

Next time you see a property you like, "keep ya gob shut" on the forums and buy it. Posting "This one is for sale" gives someone else the chance to get there before you.

Good luck.

yer otherwise you wouldn't even know you were buying it? :confused:

They have to tell you if the vendor accepts your offer.
The vendor doesn't have to accept the highest offer, so just because you have the highest offer doesn't mean that you are buying it. Nor is it an auction.
I don't think that they are obliged to tell you, I'll update my opinion if you can show me what legislation means that they are.

They have to tell you if the vendor accepts your offer.
The vendor doesn't have to accept the highest offer, so just because you have the highest offer doesn't mean that you are buying it. Nor is it an auction.
I don't think that they are obliged to tell you, I'll update my opinion if you can show me what legislation means that they are.

The vendor in this particlar property would be the repo company and they tend to go with the highest offer, and ass the OP is a FTB he is in a good position to buy, From past experiance the company would give you a straight yes or no to wether or not the offer is acceptable. the estate agent would then tell the offerer,

This is all based on the information given in this one senario, if it were a different buyer things may differ