A Guide to Finding Your First Home

The decision to buy a place to live for the first time is a big one. Becoming a property owner is a life-changing event; some would argue it’s on a par with getting married or having children.
According to official ONS figures, the average house price for a first-time buyer in the UK in 2020 was £239,000, with regional variations ranging from £132,000 in Newcastle compared to £489,000 in London. The average age of first-time homebuyers in the UK has risen too, currently standing at 34 years.
Getting finance in place is key for first-time buyers, and the new 95% mortgages announced in the March budget should allow more first-timers to get onto the property ladder with a deposit of only 5% of the purchase price. But with a long-term commitment for such large sums of money involved in a property purchase, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure that the sums invested into bricks and mortar are wisely spent.
For first-time buyers who are new to the property industry, here is some helpful advice on how to find the right home:
 
Research the area
“Location, location, location” is more than a hackneyed phrase peddled by estate agents. It’s the single most important criteria for choosing your home. A good location makes for a nicer place to live but it also keeps property prices up, a key consideration for when you come to sell your home. Check out local amenities and transport links, local schools, shops and restaurants, all of which add value to the neighbourhood. Research local crime levels (which will impact insurance premiums) and proposed development plans for housing or regeneration.
 
View many properties
Don’t design the perfect pad in your head and look for it in real life – you’re bound to be disappointed. Rather, make a checklist of ‘must haves’ and ‘nice to haves’ and be prepared to compromise. View as many properties as fall into the ‘maybe’ category and reserve judgement until you’ve seen the place in person. The more you see, the more of an understanding of the local market you will develop in terms of what’s on offer and how much it costs. Don’t be put off by cosmetic flaws or a décor that doesn’t appeal to you – wallpaper and paint colours are easy to change.
 
View shortlisted properties again
Once you’ve seen a good few properties, some favourites may emerge. Go back for a second viewing, ideally at a different time of day. While problems with a property may be easier to see during daylight hours, visiting in the evening may give you a greater insight into parking issues, or noisy neighbours. Imagine yourself living in the property including your key belongings. Would everything fit? Is there enough space for you and anyone else moving in? It’s a good idea to take a tape measure and take pictures. Does the property offer the lifestyle you would like to lead?
 
Ask lots of questions
You may be keen to make an offer on your favourite property, but don’t be in too much of a rush. There are some important questions that you need answers to first. Don’t be shy about asking the estate agent anything you need to know – it’s what they’re there for. Find out how long the property has been on the market and what fixtures and fittings will be included in the sale. For leasehold properties, it’s essential to get information about the lease term, service charge and ground rent before you can decide whether to make an offer and for how much.
 
Make an offer
Only when you are sure that the property ticks most of your boxes are you ready to make an offer. The offer should be conditional upon the home being taken off the market. Once it’s been accepted, you need a conveyancer or property solicitor who can handle the legal work and a surveyor whose job it is to check the building for defects such as damp, roof and gutter problems, timber decay, structural issues, bad plumbing and much more. If your home survey flags up serious problems, you can try and negotiate a price reduction or walk away from the sale. Nothing is legally binding until contracts have been exchanged.
 
Ask the seller questions
As part of the conveyancing process, the seller will have to fill in a property information form to give the prospective buyer detailed information about the flat or house. If the answers are not satisfactory, make sure you take the initiative to clarify key questions including: How old is the roof? When was the boiler last serviced (and is there a certificate)? When was the wiring last replaced? Are there any big maintenance or repair jobs planned for the communal areas? Now is also the time to find out about utility bills and broadband speeds. Your solicitor should make enquiries regarding any planning proposals in the neighbourhood that you should be aware of.
 
Working towards the exchange of contracts
When all enquiries have been dealt with and both the seller and the buyer are satisfied with all the information provided, your solicitor will signal that they are ready for contracts to be exchanged. This is the point at which the transaction becomes legally binding, meaning any change of heart about the property now can cost you dearly. A 10% deposit is typically paid at exchange, with the rest of the funds due on completion – the day when the property goes into your ownership, and you get the keys to your very first home.
 
Contact us today
Are you searching for your very first home? Get in touch with your local Guild Member today to begin your journey.
 

 

Financial Services

Contact a specialist from Aston & Co Financial Services for help with finding the right mortgage.

Read What Our
Customers Say

Jodie Skinner

From the beginning, our experience with Michael and Rhys has been brilliant. Whenever we had a question to ask or needed some additional information, they were both just a phone call away and were always happy to provide us with an answer. As first time buyers, they made us feel ...

Sue Smith

We can’t fault Aston and co in Syston, for their handling of the sale of our property. We were kept up to date weekly and nothing was too much trouble. Both Micheal and Rhys were approachable and very professional. I would definitely recommend using them for an efficient and hassle ...

Andy

Having had issues with other agents, we came to Astons who gave us an honest appraisal of our house – not overpricing it like others to gain business. Michael and Rhys are a great partnership and Rhys being local was able to provide viewers with information that other agents hadn’t. ...

Andy Freer

Recently sold our house with Aston & Co. We honestly could not have asked for more. From the moment Michael came to value the house, to the day to day communication from Rhys we have not had to chase them once. Michael and Rhys are a great partnership and a ...

V Pears

We chose Aston & Co in Syston to handle the sale of our property. We were kept up to date regularly and Michael and Rhys dealt with all matters efficiently and quickly.We would definitely recommend using them for an efficient and hassle-free move.

Gareth Mueller

We bought a house from a vendor who used Astons & Co as their agent. Rhys was helpful and professional from start to finish and regularly kept us in the loop with how things were progressing. Communication was efficient and swift all the way through.

Julie Pearson

From the first visit to value our property to the final phone call informing us of completion Rhys and Michael at the Syston office have been brilliant, down to earth, realistic with valuation very easy to get in touch with.Making everything less stressful.Regular updates were very reassuring . I would ...

Charlotte Hings

The team at Astons are great. They’re really down to earth, take time to listen and help resolve anything they can for you.Their communication is excellent as they always keep you in the loop with what is happening with your sale. They keep both seller and purchaser happy.Fees are reasonable ...

Julie Perkins

We have recently used Aston & Co to sell our property. At all times we received regular reports from them on interest and following viewings . When our property sold Astons managed the chain keeping all parties fully informed and I believe that without their input our sale would have ...

Tina Poole

Michael and Rhys handled both our sale and purchases. They had good local knowledge, their valuation turned out to be on point. Our sale viewings were nearly all on the same day and we accepted an offer very quickly. We were kept up to date regularly with that and our ...

How Much is Your Property Worth?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation.

PROPERTY SEARCH