Buying a property is a major undertaking, and a majorly expensive one to boot. It is no wonder that the property-buying process is so long and multi-faceted, between the legal issues that may or may not need resolving, the liaison of multiple lenders and legal professionals, and the logistics of moving physically from one place to another.
Given the excitement and stress of the move, and given the haste with which you will want to get going with the process, it can be easy to overlook some red flags in the course of buying property. In order to increase your chances of a successful and stress-free purchase, you should keep a mental note to check the following things – if only for your peace of mind…
Permissions and Land Ownership
First and foremost, you will want to ensure that the purchase you are undertaking is a fully legal one. This means ensuring that everything on the property is included on the purchase, that the land for sale is accurate to the land earmarked with the Land Registry, and indeed that the seller is legally allowed to sell the property in the first place.
It would be the role of a conveyancing solicitor to ensure all this is in place on your behalf, given the complex legal nature of certain investigations. They, however, could fail in their duty to you – opening them up to a professional negligence case.
Regulations
This risk carries through into ancillary legal parts of the pre-purchase check. It would also be your solicitor’s job to uncover any pertinent regulations that might apply to the property in question, such as environmental regulations on rural homes with septic tanks. Failure to identify the pertinence of these regulations could cost you a significant amount of money in renovation and fines, making your choice of competent legal adviser a paramount decision.
Staging and Furniture
While less fundamentally important to the purchase of the home, there are some aesthetic and comfort-based investigations you should be bearing in mind as you seek to buy. One of these is the state of the properties you are viewing – that is, the staging. Properties are often staged with furniture to show them in their best possible light; this, however, can make it difficult to imagine your own ideas for the space. It can also confuse, where certain furnishings may not be included in the sale.
Light and Sun Direction
Finally, but nonetheless importantly, we have the position of the property in relation to the sun. Sun-facing properties are naturally popular, given the natural light their living spaces enjoy each and every day. However, such properties can suffer where their back gardens and bedrooms are concerned. When viewing, make a note of where the sun travels, and which spaces are naturally well-lit. Does it chime with your personal preferences for living space?