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Useful Tips & Advice

Viewing properties

Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when looking for the house of your dreams:
View the properties as soon as possible. Leave it too long and you could lose out.

Make good use of your lunch hours or make appointments on the way to and from work.

If two of you are buying together, decide who will be the chief viewer, and weed out all but the strongest candidates.

Don't be afraid to make numerous visits with tradesmen to find out what you're letting yourself in for.

Check the history of any scruffy - and therefore cheaper - property. If it's been rented it may have had a succession of landlords, all of whom may have done the bare minimum in repair and upkeep.

If you're tempted to buy a run-down property to renovate and sell on, check how long it's been on the market. If it's been there a long time, it suggests there isn't a lot of profit to be made.

New carpets, bathrooms and kitchens can be signs of a superficial renovation that is hiding more serious work to be done.