9 Questions to Ask When Buying A House in Blackpool

Mortgage Advice in Blackpool

The moving home process can be stressful and often daunting, especially for first time buyers in Blackpool. As a mortgage broker in Blackpool, our job is to help you through the entire mortgage process and make your journey stress-free.

We know that it can be difficult to find the perfect property and know what to ask the estate agent when taking property viewings. We have made this guide to help you decide where to buy your new property in Blackpool and what you should be asking before buying a property.

The 9 most common questions:

1. How much interest has there been in the property?

Looking at how many people are interested and have been interested in the property could help you find out whether there is something wrong with the property. If loads of people have been taking property viewings, yet no one has made an offer, the property asking price is clearly too high or there is something wrong with it.

Feel free to ask the estate agents or check how many people have viewed the property if you can.

2. Is there a property chain?

A property chain is where your property purchase is slowed because the seller is waiting for the sale of their property purchase to go through. As you can imagine, this chain can go on and on, through multiple buyers.

In the case where you are part of a chain, this can play a significant part in your mortgage journey.

On the other hand, if you are buying a property that is not caught in a chain, you will likely be able to move into the home a lot faster. From a seller’s point of view, their ideal buyer would be someone who won’t be interrupting the home buying process because of selling. As a mortgage broker in Blackpool, we would recommend that you use this to your power during your negotiation stage.

3. What’s included in the sale?

Sometimes, your seller may leave behind items and/or appliances in the property when they move out. Usually, we see sellers leaving behind washing machines, fridges etc.

This may not be the case when you buy a new build as most of them do not come with appliances. You may be able to pay extra to get some of these appliances fitted in your home for when you move in.

When the previous homeowner leaves items, it can be positive and negative. If you can use and want the item they have left behind, great, however, if you do not want them, you will have to get rid of them yourself.

4. What are the neighbours like?

Finding out what your neighbours are like is a huge part of buying a home. This is especially the case if you are moving into an area you know nothing about.

When purchasing a new build property in Blackpool, you won’t get the chance to speak with your neighbours as everyone is in the same situation as you.

5. How much does it cost to run?

Especially with the rising costs of bills and electricity, it is important to find out how much the costs of running your home will be. This is why we recommend asking questions and carrying out research before committing to the property.

You can also take a look at the council tax in the area to get a rough idea of how much you will be accountable for each month.

6. Which way does the house face?

If you enjoy sunny evenings in your garden and reading in the natural light, you will need to work out which direction your house faces. Having a south-facing garden will mean that your garden gets the most sun throughout the day. This factor could actually increase the house price.

7. How much work will be required after moving in?

Even though this will likely show on a property survey, it is important to know what sort of work will be needed on the property. You want to know:

• How energy efficient is the house?
• Any damp issues?
• Does any of the furnishing need altering?

8. Are you open to offers?

Make sure to ask the seller whether they are open to offers or not, this will let you know whether there is a chance to negotiate or not. To improve your chance of them saying yes, you should include why a lower offer can benefit them. For example, if you are able to advance through the process straight away and are not caught in a property chain, you may be able to offer slightly lower so that the sale goes through quickly.

9. When can I move in?

Getting a “move-in” date is essential, especially if you are in a property chain yourself. You can let your buyer know this date too so that they have a move-in date also.

Having this date can help you work out a plan for moving into the property and begin booking removal vans etc. If you need help from a mortgage broker in Blackpool, when moving home, make sure to get in touch and book your free mortgage appointment online.

Mortgage Broker in Blackpool

Date Last Edited: August 1, 2023