Owning your own home

Viewing some houses for the first time over the weekend. We'll be looking at some three bed semis around Leeds.

I know it's quite a general question, but is there anything to look out for in particular? My sister has advised me to take note of the windows & boiler.

Plenty of decent guides out there, e.g. https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/top-tips-things-not-to-forget-when-viewing-a-property/.

Check the taps, flush the toilet, run the shower. Is external joinery in good order? Don't miss the fact that there's no radiators in the bedrooms or light in the living room. Ahem.

It's not a deal-breaker for some people but I like to check water pressure. A good shower is important to me.

Deep sniff and inspect corners of rooms for mould. Check window exterior for condition. Visual inspection of roof and gutters. Just a few off the top of my head.

They can be difficult if you go during the week in a what looks like a commercial vehicle. Borrowing a child seat can help.

Cheers for the responses, @umop3pisdn & @Stonehedge. Water pressure is definitely something I'll check & I'll take a look at that list, ta!

If you're thinking of a place where you'd be looking to extend out or up, peer at neighbours' houses to see if they have done the same.

Knotweed.
Big cracks.

@greenhell
Hit me up if you need a car seat

I can sit it in as well before the jokes start

You’re no fun anymore

Water pressure can be fixed but it costs money to so. But if you need to re-do the heating and whatnot anyway you can get it addressed at the same time.

Boiler...just budget to have to replace it. You will anyway. It's just a matter of time. The thing I would look out for on it would be where it is actually is positioned, they type, and what it is plumbed in to.

Windows - if they are double glazed then in a pre-offer visit check for panels that have lost their seal. If they are wooden frames you can eyeball for rot on any visit.

As above, on a first visit, only things like massive cracks, obvious rot / damage, damp and mold are worth noting. You are more scoping out for fit with your desires and whether you could grow in to it and extend it in the future.

On a second, third, pre-offer visit then obviously running the taps, shower, opening windows, moving furniture and whatnot is more reasonable.

I'm sorry.
Suns shiny though.
I have to go home via London bridge and Lee.
Might stop for a pint.

oof.

bf's anyone?

Oh, you fucker. I was pinting just up the road.

Thursday's....

Have a good look at the neighbours, things broken with the house can be fixed but you can’t change the neighbourhood or location. If you see a house that feels right, check the area out at a few different times of the day and night.

+1 for checking at different times of the day, don’t buy opposite a park , drunken shitehawks will make noise all night all summer (guess how I know that!!) check it’s not a rat run for cars or people coming home late from clubs and pubs

Don't buy in the South or East of Leeds.

Horrible sink estates everywhere!

Roughly west north west Leeds - only half a mile from where we currently live, so feeling pretty confident in the area.

Cheers for the suggestions, @Howard & @Ramsaye ! Exciting being a first time (for me) looking at somewhere, though we do have to sell as well which makes the whole process a bit more interesting. I'm a bit worried we might fall in love & not be able to act on it.

Make a list of the bad things about every place you see as well, then if you do lose it you can focus on that.

You can also think hard about which of those you can change, and if the ones you can't change (location, neighbours, lack of a garden etc) are dealbreakers it might give you some perspective.

We're trying to buy opposite a park, hadn't thought of that.

It's not a very "drunken shitehawk" area so hopefully it won't be a massive issue. We'll probably start with double glazing on the bedroom window though.

They had an offer accepted on that house, so no second viewing :(

Ah shame.

Time to make that list of the bad bits...

There was some chat about Bulb for gas and electric on here - where there referral codes going around? Anyone have one?

bulb.co.uk/refer/davidr9988