Find and view the right property

With your budget and finance ready, you can start searching. After this lesson, you will be able to search in a focused way and view properties with a clear checklist.

You will also know how to compare properties fairly and spot warning signs early.

Where to search

Properties for sale are often advertised by estate agents, also called real estate agents or brokers. An agent is a person or company the seller pays to market and sell the property. Remember that the agent normally works for the seller, not for you.

You can also find properties through online listings, developers selling new buildings, and sometimes directly from owners. You can browse property for sale on HagerLand to see listings in one place.

Some buyers use a buying agent, also called a property finder, who works for the buyer instead. The HagerLand Agency offers property sourcing to help you find homes that match your list.

Where agents must be licensed or registered, check that yours is. Ask a local lawyer or the relevant government office what applies where you are buying.

Using your needs list

Keep the needs and wants list you wrote earlier in this course close at hand. Filter every search by your true needs first. This saves time and stops you falling for a property that does not suit you.

Set up alerts where you can, so you hear about new listings quickly. In busy areas, good properties can sell fast.

What to check at a viewing

A viewing is a visit to see the property in person. Go with a checklist, and take notes and photos if the owner allows it. Look closely at:

• Signs of damp, such as stains, mould or a musty smell.
• Cracks in walls, especially wide or diagonal ones.
• The roof, windows, doors and gutters.
• Water pressure, electrics and heating or cooling.
• Light, noise and the view from each window.
• Storage, parking and outdoor space.

Ask the seller or agent why they are selling, how long the property has been for sale, and what is included in the price. Ask how old key parts are, such as the roof and the boiler or water heater.

View more than once

Try to view a property you like at least twice, at different times of day. A quiet street in the morning may be busy at night. Bring someone with a fresh pair of eyes.

If you cannot visit in person, for example because you live far away, ask someone you trust to visit for you. A video call walk-through can help, but it may hide problems. A trusted person on the ground is better.

Comparing your options

After each viewing, score the property against your needs list while it is fresh in your mind. Note its good points, its problems and the likely cost of any work.

Then compare properties side by side. A cheaper property that needs a new roof may cost more in the end than a more expensive one in good condition.

Where the information is available, look at the prices that similar properties nearby have recently sold for. This will help when you decide how much to offer.

Common mistakes

• Falling in love with a property too quickly. Avoid this by scoring every property against your needs list.
• Forgetting that the agent works for the seller. Avoid this by checking facts yourself and asking for answers in writing.
• Viewing only once. Avoid this by visiting again at a different time before you make an offer.

Key points

• Filter every search by your true needs to save time and avoid costly mistakes.
• Use a checklist at every viewing and look closely for damp, cracks and wear.
• Compare properties on their total cost, including repairs, not on price alone.