So now that your finances are sorted it’s time to begin your house hunting journey! We’ve created this guide to help first-time buyers understand what they need to know when house hunting - from where to start looking, to what questions to ask at a house viewing.
Let’s get started by narrowing down what your ideal house is.
What features do you want to have in your new house?
To begin your house hunting journey, the first thing you should consider doing is sitting down and determining what your ideal house is. It’s important to figure out what features you would like your property to have so that you can make this new house your home. You want to be happy with the property you choose and ensure that it satisfies all of your home comfort needs!
Location and neighbourhood preferences
Deciding on the location you want to purchase your new home in is important, as the location of your house can have an impact on various aspects of your life, for example, how long it will take you to commute to work, amenities and activities in the area etc.
Our top tip is to take some time to visit the different locations that you would like to live in, to figure out which one is the right neighbourhood for you. Speaking to members of the community is also a great way to get to know an area and ask questions about any concerns you may have.
Property details - rooms, gardens, parking etc.
Once you’ve got your ideal location narrowed down you can start focusing on the specifics of the property you want. Here’s a couple of things that first time buyers usually consider about their new house:
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- The minimum number of bathrooms needed
- Do you need a space to have an office or desk to work from home?
- Would you prefer a detached, semi-detached, apartment or bungalow?
- Whether you need a garden or not - do you have or wish to have any pets etc.
- Will you require parking?
What is your house buying budget?
At this stage you may have your Approval in Principle, so you will have an idea of how much the bank is willing to lend you. It’s important to be realistic about your budget and not overstretch beyond your means.
Set your budget and stick to it when browsing potential properties.
Search online for houses for sale
An easy way to get started with your house search in Ireland is online. That way you can browse what properties are available and narrow down whether there are properties that fit your requirements on the market and set up a viewing for them if you wish to do so.
You can also set custom alerts or search alerts so that you will receive an email anytime a property that fits your requirements appears online. It’s a competitive market, so it’s important to act quickly and express your interest about a viewing to get ahead of the crowd!
Real Estate Agents and Auctioneers
After your initial search online, we suggest that you then start contacting real estate agents and auctioneers that are based in the area that you wish to move to. You can make them aware that you’re looking to purchase a property in the area and give them a list of the property features you wish to have in your new house.
There’s a list of public registered auctioneers and estate agents on the Property Services Regulatory Authority website so you can search which ones are in your local area. Once they know what type of property you are looking for, they will send you the details of anything suitable that comes on the market.
Property checklist
Preparing a property checklist before going to a house viewing will help guide your decision making process and keep you focused on which property features are truly important to you.
Bring your checklist to all house viewings and tick off the features that each property has. At the end of all of your viewings you’ll be able to easily see which property ticks all of your boxes, or at least, the most important ones.
View with your head, not your heart
It’s important to view a property with your head, not your heart! It’s easy to fall in love with one aspect of a house and start thinking that this is the one. However, it’s important to keep your property checklist in mind and be realistic about what features you can forego and which are true essentials.
Give yourself time
- Arrive early to scope out the site of the property and check the gardens etc. if you can access them. Arriving early and having a chance to check the surroundings of the house will help you to settle in and get a feel for the property. It could also spark some questions for you to ask the real estate agent. So, give yourself plenty of time to really take in the property, after all, it’s one of the biggest purchases of your life, you don’t want to rush it!
Take pictures
Viewings can be short, so you may consider asking the person showing you the property if you can take pictures. Having images to refer to will give you the opportunity to double check anything you need to. It’s especially important to take pictures of any areas of concern so you can re-evaluate them or show them to a professional to ask for their opinion on the severity of the issue etc.
Images can also help to re-jog your memory after a viewing and help you to fully evaluate if a property is the right one for you.
Bring someone with you
Another set of eyes is always an advantage. Different people spot different things, so it’s a good idea to bring someone else along to see what they think of the property.
Floor plan
Choose a floor plan, not the finishing touches. A house may be decorated beautifully, but it’s important to consider whether the layout of the house is suitable for your needs. If you choose a house with a nice floorplan that suits your needs, you can always add the finishing touches at a later stage.
Building Energy Rating (BER)
A Building Energy Rating (BER) tells you how energy efficient a property is by rating its energy performance on a scale of A to G. A-rated homes are the most efficient and G-rated are the least - so it goes without saying that it’s a good idea to consider homes with higher ratings as they will save you money in the long-run! You can find out more information about understanding a BER on the SEAI website.
- Why is the vendor selling the property?
- How long has the house been on the market?
- Is there room to extend or can the attic be converted?
- How long were the previous owners in the property?
- Have many people been interested in the property?
- Has there been any offers made on the property?
- What’s the BER?
Where to start looking for houses for sale in Ireland
Once you have finalised your list of ideal property features, it’s time to whittle down a list of the properties on the market that suit your needs.
Tips for first time buyer house viewings
Things to consider when viewing a property
Questions to ask when viewing a property
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when viewing a house, that’s what the real estate agent is there for! They’ll be happy to answer any questions you have to help address your concerns.
Here’s some examples of questions you could ask when viewing a property:
You can then ask any other questions that will help you understand more about the property and help you determine whether it is the right house for you. The CCPC have a checklist with questions to ask the estate agent so check that out to get some inspiration for other questions to ask.
Go for a second viewing
And finally, if you think this is your dream house, why not try to arrange a second viewing. You could bring someone else along to the viewing to get their opinion, or you could view the property at a different time of day to see it in a different light.
Viewing a house a second time will really help you to determine whether it’s the right house for you.
Final stages of buying a house
Our next guide for first time buyers is on the final stages of buying a house. Check it out for information on making an offer on a house, closing the sale, the deeds and home insurance.