Check Before You Buy
Homebuyers sleepwalk into property nightmare
Expert advice from James Molloy
“With homebuyers stretching themselves to the financial limits to afford their home, many are cutting back on the relatively low costs of basic legal and social inspections. New homeowners who do not carry out basic checks face discovering too late that their dream home could be a financial time bomb.”
The AA Legal Lowdown
- Take your time – Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Do some research of the area and check out local facilities, council tax and local development plans.
- Seek Independent Advice – Estate agents and their allied service providers may not provide the most comprehensive, independent advice. Look for independent advice, shop around for it and ask questions.
- Don’t Cut Corners – Ensuring your property has been comprehensively surveyed could save you costs in the long run – if a structural fault is discovered, you walk away only losing the service cost!
Safe as Houses Facts
- Less than one in four take simple steps to properly check their dream house before they buy it.
- Just one in four homeowners commission a structural survey of their property before they buy.
- Only 29% of homebuyers consider the cost of council tax before they buy.
- Only 21% of homeowners take the time to shop around for an insurance quote.
- Less than one in five buyers check the flood risk of their new property.
- Just one in six homebuyers take the time to meet their prospective neighbours.