9 Questions to Ask When Buying A House in Grimsby
First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice in Grimsby
Starting the journey towards your homeowning goals as a First Time Buyer in Grimsby can be an exciting but stressful experience, in particular, for those who have little to no knowledge or experience of it. The good news is that you are not only one, there are plenty like you who are going through this processor the first time. As a mortgage broker in Grimsby, we recommend that you are as organised as you can be to help you through the process. Let’s look at the house-buying aspect of this process, below are 9 questions to ask when buying a house for the first time.
The 9 most common questions:
1. How much interest has there been in the property/development?
If you are interested in a particular property, it’s good to have a think before pursuing as this is a big financial commitment and is one that will impact your financial background.
One thing you need to be aware of is the amount of interest the property has. Not only does this give you a rough guideline of how long you have of the thinking process. For example, if your desired property has a lot of interest, it’s best to come to an answer pretty quickly.
2. Is there a property chain?
A property chain occurs when there are a number of transactions happening at once for every sale and purchase to be completed.
If the property is in a chain, this can have a large impact on certain stages of the mortgage process.
If there is no onward chain which can happen with new homes, situations involving bereavement or emigration, this can potentially speed up the moving process especially if you are not part of a chain yourself. As a buyer who doesn’t need to sell your own property first can be a huge advantage from the seller’s view as you won’t be interrupting the home-buying process.
This is something you should put across when negotiating as it can put you in a better position than other interested buyers.
3. What’s included in the sale?
You may find that when you move into your dream home, the previous owner has left them with previous items behind. This can be really helpful for you if the property already has electronic goods like washing machines, fridges, freezers or things like sheds that have been left by the next occupant. Keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to new build properties as they come as standard or agreed upon prior to being built.
4. What are the neighbours like?
Neighbours are something else you may need to factor in as a good or bad neighbour can be the deciding factor in you living in the property. This can be more of an important factor if you are new to the area you are moving to. Moving into a new build property can be risky as it will be the job of both you and your neighbours to build the community meaning you won’t know anyone until you move in.
5. How much does it cost to run?
In terms of the running costs, this all comes down to the house and the location meaning it’s helpful to research and ask the right questions. Aspects to research include the cost of Council Tax as well as the average spend on utilities both of which can be done by either doing your research or asking the seller. Knowing these expenses can help towards working out your budget for each property.
6. Which way does the house face?
One of your deciding factors may be the direction the property faces as many enjoy relaxing in the garden in late summer nights or reading books in natural light. South-facing gardens usually come with a large premium to pay as you will receive the most sun throughout the day.
7. How much work will be required after moving in?
Looking at the work that may be done can play a significant part in your budget. Below are some things you may want to think about:
- The energy efficiency of the house.
- Checking for any damp issues.
- Altering the furnishing.
8. Are you open to offers?
The beginning of the process starts with negotiating a property price. Keep in mind that you are as prepared as you can be to put an offer down on a property that you like. Our ‘How to Make an Offer‘ article is a brilliant tool if you are looking at improving your skills on this. When you are ready to go, you can then start negotiating.
In the case where your offer is too high or too low, it’s good to get in touch with the seller or estate agent. By doing this, you can get an idea of any other offers that have been made and rejected before your offer.
9. When can we move in?
Getting a date in the diary of when you’re moving can allow you to organise any other tasks to do before this deadline. Therefore, tasks like instructing a conveyancing solicitor, packing your belongings and organising a removal van to transport your belongings to the new property will need to be sorted.
Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Grimsby
How to Improve your Credit Score in Grimsby?
Mortgage Advice in Grimsby
Your credit score is something that plays a significant factor in the process of submitting your application. This is because the likelihood of your application being successful lies in how high your credit score is. In some instances, this may not be the case because it is down to how the lenders go by their internal scoring systems.
Each lender’s criteria is data-driven and, it will develop over time. There is no need to worry if you have been unsuccessful with one lender as they will be more lenders who may be more accepting. Our mortgage advisors in Grimsby might be able to match you with the right lender so, get in touch so we can strive for the same thing you want- to get the best available deal.
There are a plethora of credit reference agencies within the UK with the most popular being Experian and Equifax. It’s best that you look into as many of these agencies as possible prior in order to get a more generalised overview. Check My File is a platform we suggest our customers use. It collates data from major agencies, including the aforementioned two, which then provides our customers with a broader view of how your credit score is performing. When you sign up, you will have a 30 day free trial on the platform then this will become a monthly fee of £14.99, however, your account can be canceled at the end of the trial.
Below are some ways you can improve your credit score:
Keep Credit searches to a reasonable amount:
Carrying our multiple credit searches can have a detrimental effect on your score. The first thing you need to do when you have registered with one of the credit reference agencies is not to start applying for new items of credit. A simple search of comparing car insurance on a price comparison website can register unwanted credit searches.
Applying for more credit later can be a wise decision if you’re applying for a mortgage anytime soon. Borrowing credit and paying it back later works out in the long run and lenders don’t want to see this just before you apply for a mortgage application.
Check you are on the Voter’s Roll:
A way to increase your credit score in a significant way can be to update your address and enlisting yourself on the electoral roll. By doing this you can give a good sense of stability and organisation, which lenders are impressed by. Make sure all information is correct .e.g. your name and your current address. You can register online if you aren’t on the voter’s roll.
Know your Maximum Limit:
Maxing out your credit each month is something you make sure you don’t do. This will reduce your score,therefore, it’s best to keep consistent with your payments each month. This way you can get in the lender’s good books as it shows you are responsible and can manage your money.
Exceeding an agreed card limit or overdraft can be a deterrent to a lender. This is because lenders want to know you’re taking your finances responsibly hence why they look over it.
Check your Address History gets keyed correctly:
Updating your details with your providers is important as it can sometimes appear that you’re living in two addresses at once.
You need to make sure that the addresses that you detail are correct. It can be difficult in terms of formatting if you live in a flat.
Keep up to date with Credit Accounts:
Getting in contact with the providers of the credit cards which you no longer use to close the accounts can provide you with extra security. Initially, it might have an effect as lenders wouldn’t be able to find who closed the account .e.g. you or the provider.
This will help you in the long run and reduces the risk of being a victim of fraud.
Look out for Financial Links to others:
Removing any previous financial links with people like your family members or ex-partner can improve your credit score. As long as the financial association is still active, then the account will always remain in operation.
In order to remove this financial link, it’s best that you contact the reference agencies and make a request. The quicker you get this done, the more beneficial it will be.
Credit scoring can be seen as an unfair way for applications to get assessed by many consumers. The lender, however, sees this as a way to make their job easier but following these tips will help improve your credit score over time.
An up to date copy of your credit report is something you can give to your specialist mortgage advisor in Grimsby in order for them to have a detailed idea of your financial situation so they can then recommend you the most appropriate mortgage for your circumstances.
Product Transfer V Remortgage Advice In Grimsby
Remortgage Advice in Grimsby
When you are coming to the end of your fixed mortgage term, it’s important that you look to take out a new product. This ideally should be happening around 6 months early.
The process of taking out a new product is either known as a product transfer or a remortgage. However, a product transfer happens when you take out a new mortgage product with your current lender and remortgage is when you take out a new mortgage product with a different lender.
Are you rewarded for being loyal?
It would be nice, however, the majority of lenders don’t reward you for your loyalty to them. It’s unjust, however, it’s more likely that they’re offering First Time Buyers in Grimsby a more favourable rate than existing borrowers like yourself.
Obtaining open and honest Mortgage Advice in Grimsby is something we strongly suggest before accepting a deal. Finding a competitive deal with the same lender can be a challenge so it’s best that you search through some deals or approach a Mortgage Broker in Grimsby.
Here at Grimsbymoneyman, our team can search through thousands of competitive mortgage deals to find the one that is fitting for your personal and financial circumstances. We always have your best interests at heart and will work hard to find your dream deal.
Tempted by an online switch?
Even though changing over to a new deal with your current lender through an online switch may sound like a simple route, you may want to see what other deals you may be eligible for. It’s common for lenders to try and tempt you to take their online offer instead of getting Remortgage Advice in Grimsby.
Approaching a reputable Mortgage Broker in Grimsby, like ourselves, means that you are guaranteed consumer protection which is something you don’t get with an online switch.
You’ll be opting out of advice
Through our experience, we find that many customers decide to go for the most convenient option. This can result in them missing out on a good deal that they had access to if they took more time in the process or approached a Mortgage Broker in Grimsby.
It’s important to take advice, especially if it’s free! Here at Grimsbymoneyman, all our customers are offered a free mortgage consultation to every single customer. Our job is to shop around for you across our large panel of lenders to find you the most appropriate deal for your situation
In the event that an individual ends up on the wrong deal by accident or feels like they could’ve had a better one down the line, they may regret not seeking advice and just going down the route of an online switch. Furthermore, you may realise that seeking Mortgage Advice in Grimsby could save you money compared to switching deals in the future.
Open & Honest Mortgage Advice in Grimsby
We have a plethora of experience in the mortgage industry and have an excellent reputation when it comes to finding customers the perfect deal for their situation. Our team strive in providing a fast and friendly service that aims to take off any stress in the remortgage process.
Regardless of whether your situation is simple and straightforward, we always recommend you seek Mortgage Advice in Grimsby. Look at it this way, a second opinion costs nothing but making a mistake when taking out a new product can be costly.
By simply searching the market for a new deal could save a lot of money. As a Mortgage Broker in Grimsby, this is where we can help. We offer all our customers a free remortgage review with one of our expert advisors who can provide you with top-quality, tailored service to achieve your remortgage goals. Simply get in touch or book online today.
Remortgage Advice in Grimsby
