Things to know before buying a new house

12 October 2018

Buying a house is not a small thing. It needs a huge amount of investment. No matter how good the builder is or how new the building is there is no such thing as a perfect house. There are defects in each and everything. We should not assume that the house is perfect as it is a new house. It is truly said that precaution is better than cure. We should be aware before investing in a big property. Problems always pump up without an invitation.

New home buyers should have a good relationship with the builder no matter how worst the things turn up. They make the biggest mistake by not getting into laws and depending solely upon the builders. They blindly trust the builders and believe that they are doing work ethically but that is not the case in every situation.

Mistakes to be avoided by new home buyers:

These things need to be taken care of before buying a new house:

1. Deciding the property be taken before getting a loan approval

New house buyer gets attracted to the model houses without even knowing how much they have to pay for it. The builder seduces the new house buyers by showing them the model house. The model house has beautiful rooms that may not exist in reality. The buyer gives the commitment of buying the house before even thinking about their budget.

The builder promises about attractive financial schemes that attract the buyers. The buyers should talk to at least 4-5 lenders about the mortgage loan and then take a decision. They can talk to the credit union, bank, or builders about various mortgage programs and then arrive at a conclusion.

2. Details about the builder

Many times we fail to check the background of the builder. Whether he has a good reputation in the market or not. The inquiry can be done by asking the neighbors. Consulting few past customers before purchasing the property is always helpful.

3. Ignoring the upcoming issues

The new buyers usually fail to ask about the prevailing problems in the house. We can’t be assured that all the problems will be solved easily; we need to have a clear picture of the issues before getting further. We need to ask about the punch list of problems from the builder.

4. Inspection before buying the new house

Generally, we don’t feel to get the new house inspected by a professional. We feel that everything is right as it the new house. But this is the mistake that is done by most of the new buyers that they regret later on. Seeing the interior of the house the buyers think that there can be no issues in the house but the inspectors find problems most of the time. The charges of the inspector are very nominal.

5. Bad negotiation skills

The new home buyer fails to negotiate and accept the terms and conditions of the builders without even questioning them. If negotiation is done with proper technique ten it works on the side of the buyers. It should be done professionally and equitably so as to close the best possible deal. Buyers are no more victims. They rule the real estate industry by taking control in their hands.

6. Failing to get the real estimates in good faith

Mortgage lenders don’t always provide the real estimates to new house buyers in good faith. They need to provide the estimate to the buyers within three days of the loan processing application. The documents need to be clear as per the annual income of the buyer. The loan needs to be compared before applying for it. The buyers need to visit more lenders to get a good estimate and then select the best price as per his negotiation skills which are in his good faith.

The new house buyers should take care of all these things before buying a house. If a person is doing such a huge investment in the property then he needs to be careful and take utmost precautions for it. The most important thing is to take considerable time in doing the research before selecting anything.

Buyers should consult the new building company and clear the above things and match the criteria before purchasing the house. The best solutions can be provided by them as they have the knowledge about the local trend and culture prevailing. The buyers will also have satisfaction after consulting the local building company as it is from his own locality. They will have accurate information about the company and it will be easy for them to do research about the company. This is the benefit of consulting the local company instead of a company from other states.

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Property Investment Success Stories

Many people have chosen the buy to let property investment route and though the market has had some recent knocks, investing in property continues to be a lucrative option. There are a number of property investment success stories out there, and we take a look at why choosing to invest in property can be such a great option. In the UK there are more than a million buy to let property investors, most of who have a couple of properties earning rental income for them. Sometimes it can be a property they have inherited or bought when they were single, earning them the title of ‘amateur buy to letters’. However, there are a considerable number of people who have taken buy to let property investments to another level, becoming ‘megalandlords’ like Judith and Fergus Wilson who had a 1000 strong property empire worth around £200 million. In a Daily Telegraph article looking at buy to let gurus, investors like Jim Haliburton who owns 160 properties in the West Midlands and is currently buying at least one property a month, is passionate about the benefits of buying to let. With a strategy of doubling his money by purchasing a two/three-bed terrace in 2012 for £80,000, spending £32,000 on converting it into a five-bedroom property and then letting for a total annual rent of £18,000, the current market value of the same property in 2014 was £180,000. This style of property investment was also popular with Steve Bolton, who owned 20 properties around Bournemouth and Poole, buying under-priced property and converting it to accommodate more tenants. However, that kind of property investment isn’t the only option available. For many, buying property nearby and doing it up by themselves isn’t a possibility, but there are far more hands-off property investment strategies available. Property investment company RW Invest has a long list of successful property developments, where buy to let investors have gained substantially on their investment. Through monthly rents, guaranteed yields and below market value property prices, it can be an incredibly lucrative option to invest with a specialist company like this. In general, UK property has proved to be an excellent investment, with price rises across the country. Property prices in the UK have risen by an incredible 281% since 1996, and in London, where house prices are now incredibly high – they have risen by 501%. The Nationwide house price index showed that buy to let property investors typically earned £14,987 for every £1000 that was invested twenty years ago. Further success stories include one property investor who purchased a £80,000 terraced house in Oxford with a £4,000 deposit which is now worthy £525,000. Another property success was a 1996 purchase of a 1500 square ft apartment in central London which was bought for £218,000 with a £25,000 deposit and is now worth £1.5 million. Property investment continues to be one of the best investments out there, with huge price rises in the UK. As rents continue to rise across the country, buy to let property also ensures an increasing income for potential investors too. Though becoming the next property success story isn’t as far away from you as you might have thought, with lucrative property investments available in affordable cities in the UK. Read Also: 6 Tips For Selling Your Brisbane Property Investing In Property Is Investing In Your Future

How To Deal With A Difficult Landlord

Landlords are a necessary part of renting. Unfortunately, a property that is otherwise perfect might come with a terrible landlord. In the ideal situation, your landlord will be someone you get along well with. But what happens when your landlord is difficult to work with? Fortunately, you can take steps to deal with this. To this end, we have put together a list of ways to deal with a difficult landlord to help you out. Check your lease agreement First things first: look over your lease agreement again. Is the issue you are concerned with covered in the lease? Then you know how to proceed. Of course, this could also work against you, if your landlord’s behavior is covered by the lease. Because of this, before you sign a lease agreement, it is very important to properly read through it. On the flip side, if your landlord’s behavior is directly contradicting the lease, you have a legal way to make them stop. Alternatively, if you can’t landlord’s willing to give you a good lease agreement, it might be time to start considering if you want to continue renting an apartment vs buying a house. Look through your lease agreement before doing anything else, to make sure there isn’t an easy solution to your problem. Research rental laws The first step you should take is informing yourself on how you can, legally, deal with a difficult landlord. This will depend on what your exact complaint is. As such, you will want to go to the Residential Tenancy Branch website and learn about your rights as a tenant. There are laws to help you against unreasonable landlords. For example, there is an established law about how much money they can as for a security deposit. There are also laws to protect your privacy, maintenance requests, and anti-discrimination. Related Resource: How Did COVID Change Landlord-Tenant Laws Pick your fights A tenant is required to ask their landlord about any repairs, from minor to major, before they take action. But, what if your landlord is unresponsive? Well, chances are, if they are already uninterested then asking for every minor repair to be handled will make them more uninterested. So, in this situation, you should only choose high-priority issues to fight over. Legally, a landlord is required to keep their property in livable condition, however, this might mean something different to you than your landlord. So if you have to choose what needs to be fixed, then prioritize fighting over the bigger problems. Alternatively, it might be better to avoid these issues entirely and start hunting for a new apartment. If your landlord is generally unresponsive, try to only argue about important issues when you can. Speak with the other tenants Speaking with the other tenants about your issues is generally a great idea. After all, a group of tenants can more easily deal with a difficult landlord. So, ask around. Are the rest of the tenants experiencing the same issues? Check if there’s a tenant’s association, and file a complaint through them as a group. Generally speaking, groups have more success getting results than individuals filing complaints. Be prepared to leave Unfortunately, in some cases, it might not be possible to deal with a difficult landlord. Or, dealing with them might not be worth it. In cases like this, you should be ready to move out on short notice. Of course, moving out on short notice isn’t something that’s easy to do, and it shouldn’t be done without a good reason. So, always go through every other option before deciding to do this. But, if this is the only solution, you should be prepared to leave your current apartment in a week or two. Moving out is a solution that should only be considered when there are no other options. Alt-tag: couple carrying moving boxes downstairs Document everything thoroughly If you have proof, then resolving your complaints tends to be much easier. Always make your requests in writing, and keep your landlord’s replies. Do this through email, letters, or texts. If your landlord then visits you in person, make a record of the date and things discussed. Keep copies of payment requests or any agreements whatsoever. If possible, take photo or video evidence with some sort of timestamp on it to help with proving your point. Be respectful No matter how difficult your landlord may be, do your best to stay respectful when interacting with them. After all, by being disrespectful, you are only giving them more reason to be unreasonable. Try to be calm in your communications, and try to work with your landlord. Maybe they will even decide to be nicer to you in the future. If this doesn’t help, it might be time to start planning a move. Experts from vanexpressnj.com note that you should always have your move planned in advance for situations like this. Never miss your payments An easy way to help you deal with a difficult landlord is to never miss your payments, and generally be a good tenant. Follow your lease thoroughly, make sure your payments are on time. Keep the apartment clean and don’t cause trouble for the other tenants. By doing this, you avoid giving your landlord anything to say against you when you file your complaint. Look for additional help If you’ve spoken to your landlord, sent a letter, and filed complaints, but nothing came out of it, then it’s time to search for additional solutions. When you have tried everything and you just can’t reach an agreement with your landlord, then you should consider filing an appeal at the Residential Tenancies Branch. The Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB for short) can mediate between you and your landlord in situations like these. An agreement reached through this is final, binding, and enforceable. Afterword Dealing with a difficult landlord isn’t easy. If they decide to be unreasonable, or unresponsive, there is almost nothing you can do to easily solve the issue. We hope you found this list of ways to deal with a difficult landlord helpful, and you luck in dealing with your issues. Read Also: How to Protect Your Property as a First Time Landlord? What To Look For When Renting A Property In St Albans: Checklist & Advice 5 Ways to Become a Profitable Landlord 6 Expert Tips for Finding The Right Home to Buy 6 Expert Tips for Finding The Right Home to Buy

What Does it Take to Have an Eye for Top-Notch Properties?

The potential of a property cannot only be seen through its façade. Looking beyond what the naked eye can see is essential if you are looking for the best properties to acquire to invest your money. Going through the conventional ways of searching for a top-notch property may seem inappropriate nowadays, especially now that development is occurring fast and properties can increase or decrease their valuation at any time. The ability to target properties that are growing in value is a skill to develop for people who want to invest in properties. Creativity: A creative mind is useful in transforming properties that are unappealing on the first look. The location and the structure itself can be the starting point to develop these properties into high-end ones or to make them feasible for the specific purpose you have in mind. No property can be devalued as long as it has the qualities and features that every property-seeker is looking for when buying. All you need is to concrete your intent and objective in buying so that you can have a picture of how you are going to transform your target property. Updating: If you want to detect a potential top-notch property, it is essential to get yourself updated on the current trends in the real estate sector. Some aspects to know and consider are the properties up for sale, the current pricing and valuation, the profile of buyers, the flow of investment, and the innovations in real estate to make them a profitable location for business. So whether it is land in the corner of the town centre, or a property for sale in Bournemouth, all information should be gathered to keep you informed which may be useful when you decide to look for a property to buy. Networks: Establishing networks among real estate providers can also lead you to first-class types of property. This strategy may be done by connecting property-seekers to real estate agents or brokers to guide them with their preferred properties. Share with them your interest in top-notch properties. In this way, you can exchange contacts with other people engaging in real estate that will, later on, be beneficial for your high-end property hunt through their referrals. Credibility: A property purchaser that is trustworthy and delivers payment on time is a credible one. By possessing this kind of attitude when buying properties, it can lead you to the best property available for buying. Also, paying attention to advise and referrals can help in building up your seriousness to acquire properties, making real estate agents or property owners trust you with any transaction you engage in with them. That character is crucial since it is your credibility that is at stake. Your good record can bring you to the specific property you want to buy. Having such qualities is essential if you are into the real estate world where you are not only putting your money at stake but also your capacity to trust the people you are dealing with. Read Also: 5 Health Benefits Of A Clutter-Free Home Benefits Of Working With A Realtor When Selling A Property

Things to know before buying a new house

Mistakes to be avoided by new home buyers: