It’s not just a financial consideration but also a lifestyle one; you want to make the right decision for your finances, your loved ones and yourself.

Buying your first home will be an exhilarating and rewarding experience. At the end of your property buying adventure, you’ll have the keys to a home to call your own and an investment for your future.

But where do you start?
This guide will start you off on the right foot and provide practical tips and advice to help you along the way by covering the following:

• RESEARCH: Determine your non-negotiables
• INSPECTIONS: Get the most out of house inspections
• FINANCE: Take the correct steps to secure your finances
• BUYING: Auction tips and the legal process
• MOVING: Get organised and moving will be a breeze

RESEARCH

Once the decision has been made to buy a home, the majority of people turn to the internet for their research.
There can be an overwhelming amount of information to wade through online, but there are ways you can narrow down the search.

WHAT ARE YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLES?

Before you even turn to Google, sit down and write out your property deal-breakers.

• In which suburbs would you most like to live?
• Do you like the neighbouring suburbs?
• Are local schools a consideration?
• What’s the proximity to shops, sports facilities, cafes, restaurants etc?
• What are the dream features of your home?
• Is a garden or balcony important?
• How many bedrooms do you need?
• Do you need a garage?

BUYING A HOUSE IS
ONE OF THE BIGGEST
DECISIONS YOU
WILL EVER MAKE.

INSPECTIONS

You’ve set up the alerts on your phone, planned out the calendar and resigned yourself to giving up your Saturday morning sleep-in. Bring on the open for inspections.

What’s the best way to approach them? Firstly, go to as many as you can. Housing inspections are about more than just the house. It’s a chance
to see the rest of the street, explore the neighborhood and check out the ‘competition’ – the other potential buyers.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING OUT FOR AT AN INSPECTION?

As you’re walking through and around the property, take note of the following.

• Does everything open and shut?
• Do doors close smoothly or do they stick?
• Do lights turn on and off without flickering?
• Do taps work and is the water flow adequate?
• Are there signs of water damage (i.e. peeling or bubbled paint work, mould, stained ceilings)?
• Do the floors slope or bounce? This may mean stumps need replacing.
• Are there cracks in the walls, which could be an indication of subsidence?
• Is there any fretting (cracked) brickwork that could indicate major structural problems?
• Don’t forget to walk around the outside of the property to check fences and the condition of the building’s exterior including gutters and downpipes.