house price c100-110k
first time buyer
What costs should i be aware of and any ball park figures?
solicitor, survey, anything else.
£6-800 conveyancing
Stamp Duty exempt at this value
£5-600 removal costs
DO NOT USE COUNTRYWIDE CONVEYANCING!!!!
Is it new, newly new, old or falling down - plus whether you need a mortgage will all need factoring for the survey cost.
So somewhere between £0 and £1000.
Do not be conned into getting a homebuyers or building survey - get a reputable builder to walk round the property with you and get a quote for remedial works (if any).
surveyors are a total waste of time - i don't say this lightly but really they are.
get a drainage guy to do you a dvd £80
Sparky to check over the electrics £50
any big trees etc - tree surgeon usually free with an understanding that any work needed to be carried out will be given to them
builder to check chimney pots, proposed alterations, floors, windows etc - £50-100 for a good couple of hours
without stamp duty and moving yourself with a high top transit (130 quid) buying your first house should be the cheapest and best thing you ever do
@winston: are you allowed to put forward a bunch of reports from different people? Only asking because you only seem to here the official "surveyor's report" hence never thinking about it.
Survey for your own peace of mind and survey for your mortgage are two very differently things
Spacemonkey - as per king, if your mortgage company requests a 'survey' then basically just pay for the cheapest drive by they offer - don't pay more for the full homebuyer or complete survey. They just need to know that the house id worth the mortgage (not the mortgage plus your equity btw and theres the difference!) As most first time buyers just buy a standard house then its basically just an added mortgage admin cost as they charge 400 quid for a pointless 10 minute survey but you don't have a choice.
But you as a buyer need to know the state of the drains, electrics, pointing etc as it will cost you money to put that right and that is money you can get off the purchase price. Surveyors can't check this stuff so just produce a totally pointless report telling you the bathroom is in need of updating and that the might be something nasty lurking under the wallpaper they aren't allowed to remove....
agree with everyone else - don't bother with anything other than a valuation survey - anything more is a waste of money.
Cool, that makes sense - although I can see other factors playing a part too. Looking to move early next year so that's useful to know.