SECURING YOUR DREAM PROPERTY

SECURING YOUR DREAM PROPERTY

Making sure you get that dream property

They say that buying a property (especially if it’s for the first time) is one of the most exciting, but also most stressful, times of your life. At Roots we try to make this as easy and as hassle-free as possible for you. So to help, we’ve listed 10 tips for those looking to ensure they have done all they can to secure their dream property.

1. Affordability: you’ve likely already done this part, but make sure you are 100% sure and are comfortable with how much you can borrow, and that you’ve spoken to an expert broker (such as Roots) to confirm this.
2. Hustling: you likely had to be all over the estate agent when searching for your dream property,  but now you need to up the ante and manage the process closely to ensure it doesn’t fall through because you didn’t chase enough. Remember – it isn’t the estate agent, surveyor or solicitor who are about to heavily invest in the property, it’s you!
3. Be proactive: keep in contact with everyone involved and take the lead, never assuming that no news is good news. At all time you should know who is waiting for what, asking them ‘what is outstanding’ and not ‘when’ will it happen.
4. Marketing: make sure the property is removed from all marketing, as the last thing you want to happen is to be gazumped by another interested party. The property should also be listed as under offer or sold Subject To Contract (STC).
5. Solicitors: ensure both sets of solicitors are communicating frequently.
6. Surveyor: chase the surveyor to get the survey done and the results back to you.
7. Broker help: ensure your broker has let you know when you can expect the lender to issue you with their formal mortgage offer. At Roots this comes as standard and is part of our own proactive service to all client.
8. Don’t accept excuses! remember you are the customer, so be it slow or poor communication from your solicitor or estate agent etc – you are paying for their services. Don’t be rude, just be firm.
9. Timelines: everyone involved in the transaction should be aware of timelines related to them, and that they adhere to them, especially if you’re in a chain. You’re paying for wasted time if you allow people to work their own schedules.
10. Hold tight on finances: Don’t change your financial situation. Ensure you’ve completed and are in the property before you start spending money again!