Buying your first home is one of the most exciting steps you’ll take in life. But start the process and you’ll soon see why so many people say it’s one of the most stressful as well. Getting a mortgage can often be far from straightforward; waiting on surveyors’ reports can induce a serious bout of nail biting, and dealing with solicitors isn’t renowned for being the easiest of experiences.

With so much going on it’s easy to miss some of the little things that will make a big difference once the whole process is over – details about your potential new home that might affect your enjoyment when you’re actually living there.

For this reason, we’ve put together a list of details that first time buyers should be sure to check.

Be Aware of ‘Tricks of the Trade’

There’s nothing wrong with a seller making their house look nice for a viewing. It’s just worth bearing in mind as you look around that those flowers won’t always be on the table, that pot of coffee won’t always be freshly brewed, and it will be your car, not the very-flash-for-the-neighbourhood model that will be parked in the drive. All these simple estate agent tricks have been used for decades and they work because they allow us to imagine ourselves in this bright and wonderful smelling life. So appreciate the effort of course, but don’t allow the embellishments to distract you from the bricks and mortar behind them.

Time Your Viewing

If the seller always arranges your viewings at a certain time, it’s worth questioning why. Does this quiet village become a commuter highway at rush hour? Does parking become a nightmare after working hours? Do the cockerels from the nearby farm get going at dawn? (OK, so that last example is less likely, but you know what we mean!) If you end up buying, you’re going to be living in this house 24/7 so it’s worth seeing it at as many different times of day as you can. Every street, estate and village has its own ebbs and flows; try as best as you can to decipher if these will work with yours.

Meet The Neighbours

Everybody needs good neighbours, but not everybody gets them. In fact, some reports have estimated that around a third of homeowners have experienced stress due to their neighbours. Now, it might feel a little uncomfortable to knock on the door of a potential new neighbour to introduce yourself (and suss them out). But it’s worth overcoming the slight embarrassment to make sure that you’re not making the biggest financial commitment of your life so far to end up next to the family from hell. If you’re buying a flat, make sure you check the neighbours above and below as well – those upstairs neighbours can be a noisy bunch.

Check the ‘Facts’

It’s not beyond the average estate agent to employ a little artistic license in their sales brochures. So when you go to view a house, spend a little time cross-checking the spec. Is the ‘south-facing’ garden really that or does your compass app indicate something different? How long does it take you to complete the ’10-minute walk’ to the local shops? Significant variations in anything you find might even give you grounds for a reduced offer.

Do Your Own Survey

Any significant structural issues will, of course be noted on your surveyor’s report. But a lot of factors that don’t come under their remit are worth checking too. How old is the boiler for example, and is it likely to need expensive repairs or replacement any time soon? Are there any obvious signs of damp (or areas where damp has been covered up)? What’s the state of the wiring? Don’t be afraid to poke around a little – look beneath rugs and carpets and ask to see the attic. A little diligence now and you could save yourself a lot of money down the line.

Immerse Yourself

If you’re seriously considering a home and you don’t know the area well, why not take out a room in a nearby hotel or AirBnB for a few days? Doing this will allow you to get a true feel for the location. You can also find out information about a new area by using insight services such as StreetCheck, which gives you a breakdown of any area’s demographic.

Finally, don’t forget that if you are hoping to buy a new home, you can make the process easier by improving your credit rating with the Credit Builder app. With Credit Builder, any rental payments you make will count towards your credit score. Find out more and sign up here.