Tips on Buying a House in Lane Cove

Last week we gave you some tips on how to sell your house in Lane Cove.  This week we have some tips on buying a house in Lane Cove.

 

Make Sure Your Finance is in Place

Never start looking for a place to buy without having a firm budget in mind and finances approved in principle. Speak to a mortgage broker to assist you in working our which bank or financial institution has the best rate or offers. It will certainly save you time and legwork.

We have several mortgage brokers listed in our Business Directory:

Aussie Lane Cove (proud sponsor of the Lane Cove Swim Club)
Premium Mortgage Brokers
Totally Mortgage

Hayden and Caroline Follbigg from Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisers are ITC Gold Sponsors who live in Lane Cove. They have produced a guide called home loans and property investing – you can read it here. Hayden and Caroline also publish a Facebook blog which features houses for sale from numerous Lane Cove real estate agents,  if you want to see what’s on the market, it is a good idea to like their Facebook page.

We saw the following statistics on Hayden and Caroline’s blog for Lane Cove and Lane Cove North sales results this year:

‪#‎LaneCove‬
Average unit price = $875,357 (47 sales)
Highest unit price = $1,850,000
Lowest unit price = $585,000

Property Inspections

It is super important that you undertake a full property inspection before you purchase a property. You don’t want any nasty surprises with rising damp or termite infestation. BeSafe Property Inspections can provide you with a comprehensive report. Fadi from BeSafe has shared his years of experience with us in this blog about how to avoid buying a problem property.

Buying a House with a  Pool

If you are buying a house with a pool, make sure the pool is registered on the Pool Safety Register and that it complies with the legislation.  You do not want to spend money on pool compliance after you have purchased the house.  Find out more here.

If you have moved into a home with a pool, speak to Lane Cove Poolmart about maintenance and cleaning.  If you want to install a pool or spa in your new home speak to Instyle Pools and Spas.

Instruct a Conveyancer or Lawyer to look at the Contract of Sale

Unless you are a brave individual, you need to instruct a professional conveyancer or solicitor to help you with buying or selling a house.

Another ITC Foundation Sponsor is Conveyancing HQ located in Riverview. Award winning, Conveyancing Headquarters, will answer all your questions and provide an obligation free quote. They offer extended hours and a bespoke service, making the buying and/or selling process stress-free.

If you need a solicitor to assist in the sale of your house (powers of attorney or  a deceased estate, subdivision, easements etc) you should speak to local lawyers SRM Lawyers.

Change the Locks and Update the Security System

Make sure you always change the locks and security codes as soon as you move into your new home. Local lock and security experts Alert Locks and Security can assist you with this. You can read our blog here about the services they offer.  We have heard of quite a few incidents where a person has moved into a new house and not changed the locks and then subsequently been robbed by someone who had a key to their house.

Connecting Services (internet, Foxtel, electricity and gas)

Make sure you start the process as soon as possible – it takes time to arrange appointments, and you want to make sure your services are connected on move in day.

Redirect Mail

Do not rely on the new owners redirecting your mail. Make sure you use the Australian Post redirection service. You might not get much snail mail anymore, but official documents still seem to come via mail. If you use the Australian Post redirect service, you are entitled to use their free service which will assist you in updating your details with a huge list of organisations and companies.

Look After your Pets on Moving Day

In the Cove is very good at reuniting lost pets.  We have seen quite a few instances where the pet has gone missing on moving day. Make sure you update your new address with the Lane Cove Council so that if the pet is lost, the details on the microchip is up to date. Tips on updating the microchip records are here.  On moving day you may want to board your pet for the day with one of Lane Cove’s pet minding services or have the pet groomed while you move.  You will know your pet is safe and not likely to wander from the backyard if someone accidently leaves the gate open.

Professionals

If you are new to an area, you need to find a good dentist, hairdresser, and doctor, optometrist or other professional, check out our Business Directory – it only has local businesses or a business that has a Lane Cove connection.

No Storage Room

If you are moving into a house that has less storage than your previous house you can store your items at Storage King Lane Cove. They DO NOT have a minimum contract period. They have a huge range of boxes and packaging material. They can also recommend people to pack and removalists. If you like their Facebook page, they have regular tips on what to do when moving house.  We will be sharing their DIY moving tips in another blog.

This blog was sponsored by Rebecca Mitchell of Stone Real Estate, who helped fund inthecove.com.au by being a Foundation sponsor. Rebecca has lived in this area for years. You can find out more about her on our blog here.