Buy a country house for the long term

With many different questions surrounding the ultimate country house purchase, it is important to buy for the long term. Buying a property that has potential to have value added for when your needs change in years to come, can be without doubt a great benefit financially.

I often discuss with my clients the necessity to imagine the home in ten to fifteen years’ time and how suitable it will be then. Not everybody likes to think about the thought of your little children being teenagers or older, or for early retirement weather you will manage the stairs, but time passes quickly as we all know. Future proofing means you are buying well.

When looking for a new home, it is vital to list all the pros and cons as pragmatically as possible so that you know what you are buying. The costs of moving are significant – and will most likely only increase as years pass – so you don’t want to buy a house only to find that you need to move again quickly because it’s not quite right.

Important factors to consider before purchasing a house include:

  1. Location, location, location… this is always my number one rule. Avoid busy roads or motorways in the near vicinity of the house. Also do your research on what’s close by. A nearby pylon obstructing the view can be off putting for future buyers, and you may not want the aroma of next door ‘s animal farm floating through your garden on a hot summers’ day

 

  1. Buy a home you can always sell easily. Remember, your next buyer will buy for the same reasons you fell in love with it

 

  1. Extra accommodation is always good for letting out for additional income, for childcare, or for live in help if needed. This could be an annexe, a studio or a separate wing of a house

 

  1. Aspects are important, with attention given to the amount of natural light pouring into the house on the dark winter days.  Avoid a north facing rear garden if you desire unlimited sunlight

 

  1. Look at ways you can extend, with a loft conversation or perhaps how to add value and space.  Creating an extra bedroom and making it a four or five bedroom family house can be managed in years to come, enabling extra square footage and giving you a bigger more valuable home when the selling time comes

 

  1. There is flexibility on council tax bands. Research this as there can be a big difference depending on the location and types of property which are often determined by age

 

  1. Look at the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Energy performance is more important than it has been for a good while, so you need to know the costs of running the house. Find out what the current EPC rating is as well as what rating the property has the potential to be. You don’t need to spend a fortune to make a home more energy efficient

 

A buying agent can help you in your decision making process by supporting you through the search as well as the transaction, making the difference between a good purchase and one that is not. For more information about how Property Acquisitions can assist you, contact Jennie Hancock or at jh@propertyacquisitions.co.uk.