Tips for buying the right home^#

You’ve sorted out your finances, determined how much you can borrow and gathered the appropriate documentation. Now it’s time to start looking.

Ask Questions

There are many answers you need throughout the home-buying journey. Getting answers means asking the right questions. Below is a set of key ones that will help you along the way. Remember to keep asking questions until you get the answers you need.

For your property agent:

• What did the property sell for last time?
• What are the area’s annual council rates?
• If it’s a unit, what are the strata levies and pending levies?
• What is the likely rental return based on their current agreement?
• Are there approved alteration plans for the property?
• Have there been illegal additions made to the property?
• Are there any recent building or pest inspections available for review?
• Are there plumbing and wiring reports?
• How long will the settlement period be?
• Do you provide the ‘contract of Sale’?

For your conveyancer or solicitor:

• Are you professionally qualified to do the work?
• Are fees and disbursements (property searches, certificates etc) included or extra costs?
• Will you charge extra for preparing the ‘Contract of Sale’?
• Do you handle all communication during the buying process?

This is not an exclusive list and professional financial advice should be consulted before buying your home.

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