Put Yourself Ahead Of Other 1-Bed London Flat Buyers
People often start their searches online…
There is nothing wrong with this and it is actually a very logical place in which to start your search…
Typically, I would advise people to get out and view a few 1-bed properties first if they are not 100% sure in what they are after to get a feel for what properties are like in the flesh - they are often very different to how they look on the online portals…
Sometimes they look better (due to top class photography!) and at other times they look awful (due to really poor photography!).
Now…
With Coronavirus, many people can’t venture outside on a regular basis.
Therefore, they will need to plan their searches and being very particular about how they go about doing this.
“Book an appointment with an independent mortgage broker to work out exactly how much you can afford.”
Rather than simply going onto Rightmove or Zoopla (other online portals do exist!) and having a brief browse, be incredibly clear about what you are after…
If I was you, as a start, I would:
Book an appointment with an independent mortgage broker to work out exactly how much you can afford - please note that what you can afford will in all likelihood be less than pre-coronavirus, but it’ll give you an idea.
Only look at best in class 1-bed flats for your price range - this is on prime streets and the prime parts of those prime streets.
If you are looking for outside space, immediately rule out north and east facing gardens or balconies (you can often tell this from the floorplan).
If you are buying a 1-bed flat with the view to living in it long term, look for private parking.
If you are buying a leasehold property, get in touch with the estate agent(s) and get details such as the length of the lease (this is often not disclosed on the online portals).
Look at recent sold prices (you can do this on both Rightmove and Zoopla as well as a range of other online portals).
After you have worked through that list, I would book some viewings!