Home Buyers' Checklist

This checklist is NOT and official home buyers guide. This is simply a list of things from our own home-buying experiences that may be helpful for new and prospective Ballinahinch Wood buyers. Experiences may differ for each person based on circumstances, previous experience with this overwhelming process of buying a family home, but hopefully it'll provide at least a little guidance for those starting out and trying to figure out where to start and what lies ahead! Over time we will create posts for each step to add more information.

So without further ado, here is your very unofficial home-buyers checklist!

High level

• Who
• Solicitor
• Mortgage Provider, Mortgage Advisor
• Estate Agent / Auctioneer
• Snagger
• Mover
• What
• Financial statements
• Employment
• Tenancy agreement
• Savings
• Help to Buy

More detail

Before you start

• Approval in principle - get this done before you view, shop around
• Help To Buy eligibility (and availability) - first time buyers only, for new builds or self-builds
• Budget - do not be tempted to go over your budget, leave some room for savings
• Deposit percentage/amount
• HTB?
• Mortgage value, rates currently on offer, monthly payment estimates
• Be aware that there are other costs involved (solicitors fees, stamp duty, etc)
• Keep in mind costs for furniture, for movers, etc
• Search - go out there and start hunting for your perfect home
• Viewing - take your time, poke around, ask questions
• what is included, what is not - tiles, wardrobes, appliances, fittings 

Applying for your morgage

• Booking deposit - guarantees your new home is yours
• Solicitor - this person is vital in the process, find a good one. Discuss fees up front, often a home purchase will be a fixed fee, with anything over and above charged extra.
• Mortgage application - get this started as soon as possible, shop for rates
• Fixed vs variable rate interest
• Term (years)
• Paperwork for mortgage application
• Bank statements
• Payslips
• Salary slips
• P60 (may be removed as requirement now that P60s are no longer issued??)
• Application form (depends on bank)
• Source of savings (evidence of sufficient savings to cover the value not covered by mortgage - typically 10% for first time buyers)
• If you're going HTB, this counts as up to 5%
• The booking deposit becomes part of your overall deposit
• Savings not in your own name (if joint purchase)
• Tenancy agreement (if you are currently renting, you may be asked for proof)

Letter of offer received - sign it (solicitor) and pay the balance of the deposit (solicitor)

Next steps

• Communication is key
• Talk to your estate agent/auctioneer
• Talk to your soon-to-be new neighbours
• Ask for estimated snag date
• Keep asking for updates, they rarely ring you, you need to ask them
• Hope for the best, plan for the worst
• Don't give in your notice on your lease until you have some degree of certainty on your closing date
• Delays are inevitable; Delays are normal
• Do up a more comprehensive budget for expenses you will need to cover
• Solicitors fee (excludes VAT - factor this in)
• Stamp Duty (1% of purchase price or value)
• Additional small legal fees (few hundred euro)
• Movers - self-pack or full move package (latter costs more)
• Storage costs (might be needed, might not)
• Furniture - beds, couches, tables
• FLOORS - most new builds don't do your floors
• Laminate seems to be the most cost effective, and quality is greatly improved from even 10 years ago - go for something sturdy, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm +, avoid the temptation of cheaper 6mm
• Underlay is key!
• Hardwood ($$$)
• Engineered wood (somewhere in between laminate and wood)
• Tiles
• Carpet
• Shelving units and wardrobes (if not already included)
• Appliances (do you have an appliance pack from the developers or must you buy your own)
• Garden Shed
• Garden furniture
• Is the garden seeded?
• Broadband, TV, Phone services available in the area
• Curtains/blinds
• Attic conversion/attic flooring for storage - is this an option?
• Lights (stick with basic fittings or get some nice shades or chandeliers?)
• How many light fittings in each room, type of socket (B22, E27, GU10, other?)
• Outside lights
• Burgler alarm
• Smoke / CO2 detector
• Start thinking about the kinds of plants for your garden
• Start looking at snaggers
• Start looking at movers - full move package, or self-pack, or rent a van and do it all yourself
• Start looking at storage options if necessary

Dont leave this till last minute, will delay closing

• Home insurance options - list a few, quote valid 30 days
• Life cover (aka mortgage protection - give this one at least a few weeks especially if you're not Irish by birth, could require additional health checks...)
• Valuation report (varies by bank)
• BER Cert (if applicable for the new 'Green' rates on offer)
• Confirm that all expected documents have been received by 
• Bank
• Solicitor
• Developer
• Confirm that Help To Buy has been claimed by deveopers at least 2 weeks ahead of proposed snag date
• Boarding for pets (stressful and possibly dangerous for them on moving day)
• Temporary accommodation may be required
• Chase up things that should be complete - you'll be on the phone a LOT towards the end
• Get it in writing
• Notice periods on your lease: tenants notice vs landlords notice
• will your landlord allow an extension in the case of delays?
• HB47 / Global Home Protection warranty document (from developers, e.g Ardstone)
• County Council certification (can take 21 days, starting at snag)

Closing

• To be completed soon