Practical tips to save time and keep you stress free

Buying a new home is an exhilarating time, albeit time consuming and a little complex. It’s likely to be the largest financial transaction you will make and there are many legally binding documents you will need to sign – after the excitement wears off you could find this a little daunting.

But with the right checks and balances in place, you should be well on your way to enjoying a brand new chapter in your life and in your dream home.

Before you sign on the dotted line and say “I do” to what could be a lifetime relationship with your home, consider these helpful tips from Hollard to make sure your home ownership journey is one of joy and not remorse:

1. Know what you can afford – Find out whether you qualify for a home loan and if you do, what amount you qualify for from your bank. Getting pre-qualified for a home loan saves you time as you know what price range you need to be shopping in and what deposit you’ll need to have available. Make sure that you can afford the bond repayments plus the extra costs such as rates and taxes, water and electricity, maintenance and the homeowner’s buildings and life insurance cover which the bank will require.

2. Cover yourself for unexpected extras– Always ask about extra costs, for example if you have an existing bond on a property you need to sell first, check with your bank what the bond cancellation fees are. Find out from the agent what the transfer duty, bond and registration fees will be. Also, if you do need to sell before you can buy, make sure that any offer to purchase is subject to that condition in writing on your contract.

3. Research the area you want to buy in – Ask your agent for a list of properties that have sold in the area in the last year and compare price ranges. Is it market-related and what is the resale market like in the area? Contact the local police station and ask about crime statistics – are these acceptable to you? Check out the local amenities that are important to you, such as schools, retail, healthcare and sports facilities. Check traffic flows and noise, including air traffic. Are there open stands in the area which could be a hotspot for crime or property developments?

Try out the routes to work and school in the area during peak hour traffic and ensure that you are comfortable with the time that you will spend in the traffic each day. These are all factors that could impact the future value of your property and importantly your quality of life.

4. Read the fine print – get a copy of all the agreements you will need to sign from your estate agent and read them thoroughly beforehand. This will help you know ahead of time what sort of information you will be asked for. If you are buying into a sectional title complex, ask for the financial statements of the body corporate to make sure it’s financially sound and all levies are up to date. Check whether any special levies are planned for the near future.

5. Contracts must be in writing – make sure all the conditions of the sale are set out in writing. Specify your occupation date – the date you intend moving into the house and whether occupational rent will be applicable, and if so, at what rate. If no date is fixed, the seller can remain in the house until the house has been registered into your name and the full purchase price has been paid. 6. Check building plans for alterations – That granny flat that you love and the extra entertainment area may be deal clinchers for you, but have the alterations been approved? Check with the local municipality on whether or not any alterations on the property you intend to buy are approved. If you find out aabout ilegal alterations post purchase, you will be liable to rectify these including the costs of applying to the municipality for approval of the plans. If the structure does not conform to municipal regulations, you could even be forced to demolish the structure which will cost you money and reduce the value of the property.

7. Protect yourself against historical municipal debt – A recent Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment states that property owners can be held liable for historical municipal debts dating back up to 30 years. If you are buying a property, make sure the seller pays absolutely everything that is owed to the local authority and indemnifies you against any undisclosed debt before taking transfer.

The SCA decision means that any debts owed to a local authority by a property owner are not extinguished when a property is sold to another owner. Enlist the help of your agent and attorneys to find out whether there are historical municipal debts associated with the property you want to buy.