The first thing you need to know when buying a property is how much you can afford up to, the best way to do this is to book an appointment with our mortgage advisor. Please contact us to book in an appointment. You can also discuss with your mortgage adviser any concerns over your credit history.
Once you’ve established a budget, and have your agreed mortgage in principle you can look for the property of your dreams!
Call one of our experienced sales consultants to discuss your requirements in detail. Alternatively you can look at our current properties for sale and register your details by completing the online form.
We are open 7 days a week Monday to Thursday 9am-5:30pm, Fridays 9am-5pm, & Saturdays 10am–5pm. On Sundays we are open but for viewings only. Our phones lines are also manned 24 hours a day.
Decide on the size and type of property you are looking for. Make a list of absolute requirements and then a ‘wish list’ of things that you would like but aren’t totally necessary. You can then ‘tweak’ this list as you go along – but it is always better to have some idea of what you are looking for to begin with.
Absolute requirements might be number of bedrooms, parking, outside space etc. Your wish list items might be a nice view, a concierge service, large master bedroom etc.
Location questions to consider might be; how close to local amenities are you? How good is the public transport? Are there any schools nearby?
By speaking to one our sales consultants they will be able to help with their knowledge of the City centre
We recommend that you obtain solicitor quotes at the beginning of your search in order to have a solicitor in place for when you have your offer accepted.
Here at Julie Twist we have an excellent selection of preferred solicitors, please contact us if you would like a no-obligation quote.
If you find a property you really like, we recommend you book an appointment to view as early as possible to avoid disappointment, if you would like to view a property and cannot make it to Manchester then we can offer a Whatsapp viewing, videos.
You should have a list of questions ready to ask during your viewing (especially if it’s a second or third viewing). Many people make offers after seeing a property only a couple of times and so you need to use viewings to gain all the information you need to make a decision.
Some questions to consider:
• Ask to see any communal areas
• Ask to see any outside space and parking spaces included with the property
• Ask for information about local amenities, such as shops, doctors and transport links.
• Ask if the vendors have a chain and when they are looking to complete
These kinds of details help you to build a picture about a place – and if the vendor or tenant is at home you may want to consider asking more detailed questions such as how they have found living in the property themselves.
Other viewing tips include:
1. Take a family member or friend, whose opinion you trust, to see the property.
2. Make sure the property is within your budget.
3. Remember to ask about the cost of utilities and other costs outside the asking price e.g. service charge and ground rent.
4. Take a look at the area at different times during the day; i.e. rush hour, during the day and evening
5. Take your time on the viewing, take a look at each room in finite detail.
Take into consideration the condition of the property. i.e. if you notice anything that you’re not happy with, this needs to be highlighted in your offer at the beginning of negotiations. Furniture is not typically included within the price, unless stated, so if you would like furniture to be included or removed, this needs to be decided at the start and then discussed with the vendor.
Keep a record of recent property sales, prices in the area and neighbourhood statistics. Most of this information can be found on the Internet or by visiting local estate agents. Ask your agent whether they have sold other properties in the area or development and what prices they achieved.
Once you are armed with this information, take into consideration the current condition of the property and make a realistic offer based on what you can afford and what you think the property is worth. Remember to be sensible. Most vendors are going to be put off completely by a poorly considered offer that is significantly below the asking price.
Generally speaking, it pays to be up front about your own selling position. First-time buyers, buyers with no chain and buyers with either cash or a pre-arranged mortgage are in a favourable position because they are seen as safe bets: these sales are more likely to reach the completion stage quickly – so let your agent and vendor know if you fall into one of these categories.
Quite often the first offer you put forward will be rejected, this is the process of negotiation. Try to keep in mind what the maximum amount is that you’re willing to spend. Property is often emotive and sometimes your heart tries to take over your head. Remember that this is a big purchase and one that will have a massive financial impact so make each revised offer carefully and with thought. Be prepared to walk away from negotiations if the price starts to stretch you beyond your financial affordability.
Once your offer is accepted, the sales progression will now begin. Please refer to our sales progression for further information on what happens next.