Five key questions every homebuyer should ask Five key questions every homebuyer should ask

Five key questions every homebuyer should ask

From assessing your finances to booking a viewing, you have a lot to think about when searching for your dream home.

No. 997 from our magazine|2 min read| Published in Magazine on 1 April 2022 by our Marketing Team
This article is over 4 years old

By asking a few key questions, you can be confident you’ve chosen the right property.
Here are five to start with:

1. Has the property been on the market for a long time? 
It’s normal for a home to take a few months to sell. After that, you may need to dig a little deeper to discover why the property has been on the market a little longer than usual.
By pressing for more information, you could save yourself any worries in the long run.

2. Have there been any significant alterations? 
It’s always a good idea to check what renovations or extensions have taken place over the years. Of course, we recommend having any property professionally surveyed before signing on the dotted line.

3. What is staying with the property? 
When you set your heart on a home, it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture and forget about the finer details. Do you know what the current owners are leaving behind? How will this affect your moving arrangements and budget? Make sure any remaining items are listed in the contract to avoid any potential delays further down the line.

4. What are the likely running costs? 
Pay close attention to hard-to-control factors such as the council tax band. Also, check the average utility costs in the area and think about how you’ll heat your home. Location can be a consideration, especially if you’re moving to a more rural area. In this case, factoring in any increased travel costs is a good idea.

5. Are there any issues with the neighbours? 
The seller must give a true account of any disputes, from disagreements over boundary lines, to formal noise complaints. While their answer may not stop you from buying, forewarned is forearmed.

Ready to start the search for a new home? We have some fantastic properties available to browse here.
If you are struggling to find what you are searching for, contact us with your requirements and we will suggest the best matches for you.

This article was originally published by BriefYourMarket and is reproduced here with their permission.

For more company news and insights from Pygott & Crone, click here

Latest news

The autumn deadline student tenants need on their radar
Magazine | 21 August 2026

The autumn deadline student tenants need on their radar

The autumn deadline student tenants need on their radar Most of the changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act on 1 May 2026 work in tenants' favour: stronger security of tenure, no more no-fault evictions, and the freedom to leave at any point with two months' written notice.

What your landlord must do with your deposit, and by when
Magazine | 21 August 2026

What your landlord must do with your deposit, and by when

What your landlord must do with your deposit, and by when When you hand over a deposit at the start of a private tenancy in England or Wales, the law sets out precisely what your landlord must do with it and when.

Why first-time buyers pay wildly different stamp duty depending on where they buy
Magazine | 21 August 2026

Why first-time buyers pay wildly different stamp duty depending on where they buy

Why first-time buyers pay wildly different stamp duty depending on where they buy First-time buyers in England start from the same point on paper: a stamp duty relief threshold that means no tax is paid on the first £300,000 of a purchase price.

Three heatwaves, three dips, one resilient buyer market
Magazine | 21 August 2026

Three heatwaves, three dips, one resilient buyer market

Three heatwaves, three dips, one resilient buyer market The summer of 2026 tested the UK property market with an unusual combination of pressures: three separate heatwaves, a World Cup, a period of political uncertainty, and elevated mortgage rates following the conflict in Iran.

Chat live

Chat live with a member of staff

Please provide your name and email address to continue.