How to buy the right house, made easy

Everyone will tell you that they bought their house the moment they walked through the front door, but you first have to choose the right front door.

And so when shopping for a new home there is no “shortcut fast track one stop” method if you want the job done properly. You will want to get this right first time. The cost of ownership is expensive considering transfer duty and transfer costs, and so it is not likely that this is something you will be doing on a regular basis.

And the same as the POSITION, POSITION, POSITION adage applies once you’ve found the right location; this time its RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH first. Get to know areas and values. To do that you will first need to identify a preferred area based on proximity to schools, work and family. Find an area that offers good security and the right type of accommodation; be it an estate, apartment, free standing house or a small holding. Nowadays online shopping makes doing this research a dawdle even in another city or country. Logon onto our website www.homesofdistinction.co.za and start searching. Use the filters to limit according to your own specifications.

Then take a drive and:
o Measure the traffic and the time taken to get to work.
o Check the condition of the roads and pavements.
o Visit the local shopping centers, try a restaurant and the supermarket.
o Look to see which security company is most active, call them and ask for crime statistics for the area.
o Look for signs of an active residents association.
o Check to see what public transport routes run nearby.

Once you are satisfied that this is the area where you want to spend your money then start to make appointments to view properties that appeal. It is so much easier to make buying decisions once you have done the homework, as you will instantly be an informed buyer who is up-to-date on area and value.

If you found this interesting please read: The 10 most important questions to ask before buying a house.