McEwan Fraser Legal: Top Tips when Buying a Home

Your house is quite often the biggest investment of your life, so it’s imperative that when looking for a new house you get your search off to the right start. While the number of rooms, condition of the kitchen, and size of the garden are important, there are many other things to consider. Property experts McEwan Fraser Legal offer their tips on how to approach the process of buying your home.

1. Financing: Knowing your limits

The most important thing is making sure you are obstacle-free to buy your new home and have assessed your finances thoroughly. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned purchaser, it’s important to get professional advice on financing your home. McEwan Fraser Legal can refer you to a panel of Independent Financial Advisors who will assess your circumstances and help you to househunt with peace of mind, knowing you are not overstretching your finances.

2. Legalities

The process of purchasing a home involves multiple transactions with a lot of crossing the ‘t’s and dotting the ‘i’s required. McEwan Fraser Legal are meticulous in ensuring that this is done to the highest standard. They provide a competitively priced conveyancing service for buyers and a free walkaround valuing service on the property. Their highly-trained legal team negotiate on a buyer’s behalf and their customer service team can assist with any questions at any time.

3. Your Existing Home

It can be a distressing experience when you want to purchase your dream home but can’t move forward because you are tied to a house that you are struggling to sell. In these circumstances, it might be a good idea to consider properties that offer a part exchange option. McEwan Fraser Legal has developed a unique, part exchange solution which breaks this chain and means that, unlike other agents, they can offer buyers who are struggling to sell their home the additional option to trade in their property through McEwan Fraser Investments. As long as buyers are willing to negotiate on the valuation figure, McEwan Fraser Investments can help them move forward instead of being tied to a property they cannot sell.

4. Location, Location, Location

They say that the three most important things to think about when buying a home are location, location, location. You can change imperfections in a home but you cannot change your home’s location. When you go house hunting, consider any potential home’s proximity to your work, the charm of the neighbourhood, how the home is situated on the plot, ease of access, noise from neighbours, traffic, or pets, and access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation.

5. Property Matching Service

McEwan Fraser Legal provides buyers with a free online property searching service in which they can specify exactly the type of home they are looking for, including location, price, external features, etc. When McEwan Fraser Legal register a seller with a house that matches the buyers specification, an email alert is sent to the buyer to let them know they have located a property that matches their needs. http://www.mcewanfraserlegal.co.uk/buying.html

6. Situational Factors

Beyond location, look at the particular site of the home. If the home is on a hill, does it have a view, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbours’ windows look directly into the home? Is the garden suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Is access to the property safe when taking into consideration driveway elevation, stairs up to (or down to) the front door?

7. Check Out the Neighbourhood

Be sure the neighbourhood, and not just the house, meets your expectations. They say that you should own the smallest home in the nicest neighbourhood you can afford. You’ll have a great view! Do the neighbours keep the gardens clean and tidy or are there old cars and trash around? Is the neighbourhood safe enough for people to walk, run, or bike around and if you have kids is it child friendly? Never buy a house that you haven’t viewed in person!

8. Consider a Home’s Curb Appeal

Your home should reflect your lifestyle. Do you live a laid-back life? Then you might not want a formal Victorian-style home. Something simpler and more contemporary might be in order. Look at the exterior features and consider ongoing maintenance. Is the roof in good condition? Is the landscaping attractive, and are the routes leading to the home safe?

9. Size and Floor Plan

You may be thinking about buying your dream home. But is your dream home impractical? Do you really need 4 bedrooms and 3 baths when you live alone? A large home can give you the extra space you’ve always wanted for a home office or crafts or art projects. Think about how the new home space will be used and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future.

10. Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you really need, and only look at homes that meet your criteria. It would be a shame to fall in love with a cozy, charming cottage that just isn’t big enough. An extra bedroom is always a plus, as it can be used for a home office, craft studio, or guest room. If you think you’ll be adding more room later, be sure to consult an architect who can advise you on space planning, lot usage and planning regulations.

11. The Kitchen

If the kitchen is the heart of your home, don’t settle for a home with a kitchen that just won’t work. You can always remodel, but it’s very costly. Could you just replace cabinet faces and countertops instead? Will an inexpensive makeover be sufficient? Don’t worry about appliances, as they can usually be easily replaced.

12. Closets and Storage

Older homes tend to have small closets and not a lot of storage space. If you have lots of sports equipment, craft supplies, out-of-season clothes, and storage items, be sure you know where they will go in your new home. You can always add storage space, but you might have to sacrifice living space in your rooms.

13. Windows and Lighting

Do you love a bright sunny room or do you love privacy? Look at a home with light and sunshine in mind. Look at the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures. Will they accommodate your lighting needs? Is there recessed lighting in the kitchen, cove lighting in the family room and a lovely chandelier in the dining room? If not, you can add them later, but it’s nice to have them in place when you move in.

14. Running Costs

Do your homework and make sure you gather all information on the running costs of any house you look at. Read home reports carefully, ask the seller questions, check out costs of any factoring services and make sure you are completely knowledgeable about any shared costs with adjoining properties and neighbours.

15. Finishing Touches

Sometimes the simplest home looks spectacular because of the installation of mouldings, hardware and a fireplace. If these elements are important to you, look for them while house hunting or be ready to add them after you move in.
If you keep these specific elements of a home in mind, your search will be more successful, and you’ll likely end up with the home of your dreams!