First time home

[Snippysnips]

Looking for all tips, advice and anything else you can offer on a first home.

So I am getting ready to start seriously looking for my first home, I'll be on my own an I'll be increasing my hours at work.

So for those that have been through this, if you could go back what would you tell yourselves about what to do, what not to do etc.

I've already decided a slow cooker should be on the list for things to help so that I am not coming home having to think what to cook for dinner especially with the increased hours, am quite a neat person so any advice on keeping the home looking great would be helpful like good cleaning products etc, I won't be doing the help to buy scheme as this may not be a "forever" home so looking for a mortgage with fixed term interest an who has the best offers an anything I should look out for.

Honestly this is a new world for me so it's all overwhelming, so if there's anything to offer it would be more than welcome, thanks

 

[Kim Mild]

You have to consider that situations out of your control may change and you may live in that property for longer than you initially anticipate. Also , the buying/ conveyancing process takes ages.

 

[Snippysnips]

You have to consider that situations out of your control may change and you may live in that property for longer than you initially anticipate. Also , the buying/ conveyancing process takes ages.

I suppose I would like to think I'd be in it for life, but if I were to meet someone then it could change so I don't want to say for certain that this is it

I am still living with parents right now so there's no real rush to move, realistically I was thinking it would be early next year or possibly early summer before I was into a place

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Congratulations! As overwhelming as it may feel I'm sure you'll enjoy having your own space.

My advice is start collecting small inexpensive things now, herbs, spices, baking trays, measuring spoons etc. It will soften the blow of having to buy everything all at once and it's a pleasure to see your collection grow.

 

[Snippysnips]

Congratulations! As overwhelming as it may feel I'm sure you'll enjoy having your own space.

My advice is start collecting small inexpensive things now, herbs, spices, baking trays, measuring spoons etc. It will soften the blow of having to buy everything all at once and it's a pleasure to see your collection grow.

Thanks, that's a good idea since I'll need to kit it out from scratch, right now I'd only have my bed an TV to take

 

[Sunflower91]

Don’t be afraid to chase things up or question why things are taking so much time. I completed all of the stuff I could on my end as quick as I could- the biggest hold up was the solicitor back and forth over the queries.

If you’re living with parents use the first few days after moving in to clean and do basic repairs while you don’t have furniture in the way. I painted before I moved in all of my furniture and it was a godsend. Also it’s cool to just tackle things room by room and take your time. I limit myself to one big project a year just to reduce the stress levels.

Don’t forget to buy a bottle opener, corkscrew and pizza cutter (I realised I had none of these when I wanted to celebrate after a long day painting and had to hack into a bottle of wine and butchered my pizza). For a slow cooker- you might want to consider the ninja foodie max. It airfrys, pressure cooks, slow cooks etc and saves on the space you’d need for separate appliances.

 

[Snippysnips]

Don’t be afraid to chase things up or question why things are taking so much time. I completed all of the stuff I could on my end as quick as I could- the biggest hold up was the solicitor back and forth over the queries.

If you’re living with parents use the first few days after moving in to clean and do basic repairs while you don’t have furniture in the way. I painted before I moved in all of my furniture and it was a godsend. Also it’s cool to just tackle things room by room and take your time. I limit myself to one big project a year just to reduce the stress levels.

Don’t forget to buy a bottle opener, corkscrew and pizza cutter (I realised I had none of these when I wanted to celebrate after a long day painting and had to hack into a bottle of wine and butchered my pizza). For a slow cooker- you might want to consider the ninja foodie max. It airfrys, pressure cooks, slow cooks etc and saves on the space you’d need for separate appliances.

Thanks, I didn't know you could get a slow cooker that also done other things, that would be great as the places I am looking at have quite small kitchens so I need to save as much space as I can, so I'll take a look at that

Am usually the type that will keep questioning then hoping they don't get fed up with me, so I'll keep chasing if there are any slow downs

I do plan that it will be a slow move, I don't want to feel like a rush then end up getting on an wishing I had done this or that before an with the benefit of being with parents I'd have that time to be able to do it

 

[bottlewrapper]

Don't buy a property needing any more work than painting and decorating, unless you are already very experienced or have a lot of money to spend on tradespeople. All the property and garden tv programmes lie about the actual effort and money involved and make it look easy.

Ignore the old advice about buying the biggest property you can, consider genuine affordability.

If you're buying a leasehold flat, insist on asking for 10 years of records on major works, and make sure you understand how major works and sinking funds work, and what the situation is in your building.

Go and visit the property at different times of the day and night before you exchange contracts.

Knock on the neighbour's doors and introduce yourself as a potential buyer and ask them if they enjoy living there, is there any community etc. Suss them out - loads of noisy kids/dogs? Drug den? Pensioners? Brothel? Do you want to live next to them - neighbours can be a real blight on a property and the onus is on you to discover any problems before you move in. Get your solicitor to check whether neighbouring houses are council properties, registered HMOs etc.

 

[Snippysnips]

Don't buy a property needing any more work than painting and decorating, unless you are already very experienced or have a lot of money to spend on tradespeople. All the property and garden tv programmes lie about the actual effort and money involved and make it look easy.

Ignore the old advice about buying the biggest property you can, consider genuine affordability.

If you're buying a leasehold flat, insist on asking for 10 years of records on major works, and make sure you understand how major works and sinking funds work, and what the situation is in your building.

Go and visit the property at different times of the day and night before you exchange contracts.

Knock on the neighbour's doors and introduce yourself as a potential buyer and ask them if they enjoy living there, is there any community etc. Suss them out - loads of noisy kids/dogs? Drug den? Pensioners? Brothel? Do you want to live next to them - neighbours can be a real blight on a property and the onus is on you to discover any problems before you move in. Get your solicitor to check whether neighbouring houses are council properties, registered HMOs etc.

Thanks, I never thought about checking out neighbours an such or asking for the situation on the building

I don't think it will be very big, we had not a exactly big house when growing up but bigger than others like friends/family an for some strange reason it made me a bit wary so now I prefer a smaller home where it doesn't feel like rooms are far apart

Honestly work itself doesn't put me off unless it's going to be massive financial wise, I have a close friend that basically rips property's apart to the shell to rebuild them, his office was practically falling to bits an I mean like walls an roof needed ripped apart to fix an he's done amazing putting it together so I know I have that if needed, but ideally if it's just painting an new flooring etc I'd be happy with that

The homes am looking at I know roughly what the area is like, I won't be moving far, will still be in the same town an will know people around, it will just be the neighbours I won't know too well

 

[StephenTJackson]

Having just done this myself buying my first home on my own. I wish you all the best. And good luck.

I second the buying bits and bobs in advance, spread the cost of those little bits and pieces, kitchen stuff especially.

When planning your budget, how much you want your mortgage to be around, bills etc, always give yourself plenty to have a life as well and a bit of a safety net each month if you can. No point being mortgaged to the limit and you can't enjoy your life a bit or afford to decorate etc.

Don't rush into decorating, unless you're buying a proper fixer upper intentionally, personally I wouldn't recommend a big job as a first home. Take your time to live in the house and decide what you want for each room and how you want it to be. No point rushing it for the sake of it

Don't be afraid of chasing up solicitors if you need to. I was lucky everything happened quite quickly for me, due to it being chain free. Also, a mortgage broker is helpful as well. Some are free some charge, but have one, they will get you the best deal and do all the application, mine was great because of hoops to jump through with HSBC for my mortgage application.

Batch cooking meals when you get chance is my big recommendation as well, so you can just defrost portions overnight and just sling it in the oven when you get back from work the next evening. Means you still get a good home cooked meal without all the effort every time.

 

[Snippysnips]

Having just done this myself buying my first home on my own. I wish you all the best. And good luck.

I second the buying bits and bobs in advance, spread the cost of those little bits and pieces, kitchen stuff especially.

When planning your budget, how much you want your mortgage to be around, bills etc, always give yourself plenty to have a life as well and a bit of a safety net each month if you can. No point being mortgaged to the limit and you can't enjoy your life a bit or afford to decorate etc.

Don't rush into decorating, unless you're buying a proper fixer upper intentionally, personally I wouldn't recommend a big job as a first home. Take your time to live in the house and decide what you want for each room and how you want it to be. No point rushing it for the sake of it

Don't be afraid of chasing up solicitors if you need to. I was lucky everything happened quite quickly for me, due to it being chain free. Also, a mortgage broker is helpful as well. Some are free some charge, but have one, they will get you the best deal and do all the application, mine was great because of hoops to jump through with HSBC for my mortgage application.

Batch cooking meals when you get chance is my big recommendation as well, so you can just defrost portions overnight and just sling it in the oven when you get back from work the next evening. Means you still get a good home cooked meal without all the effort every time.

Thanks for this, I have been looking around for mortgage brokers, I didn't realise some were free so I'll do some more digging as any little savings I can make I'll take

I think I'll start making a list of everything a house needs an just start to slowly make my way through it since it's going to feel like I'll need a mountain of stuff

I don't really want to intentionally buy a fixer upper but for me location will need to come first then cost and then the state of the place so am hoping where I need has some that aren't too bad

And congrats on your home good luck with it