Product Description

Moving house is officially one of life's most stressful experiences, with many nasty traps awaiting the unwary. Collapsing chains, abortive fees, gazundering, gazumping and hidden mortgage penalties can all prove ruinously expensive and emotionally devastating. So before entering the property jungle, it's essential to know what you're doing. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an old hand, the good news is that the Home Buying & Selling Manual will put you firmly in the driving seat, so you can confidently manage your own sale and purchase and save money. Haynes have made the experience as painless as possible, enabling you to take control of each step in the process. Despite the credit crunch, market downturns have always presented big opportunities and there are rich pickings for those who know the rules. But in recent years, the advent of the Internet, HIPs and e-conveyancing have transformed the way houses need to be sold and purchases funded. Recognised as one of the most comprehensive books available on this subject, this manual is divided into separate parts devoted exclusively to buying and selling. Each stage is clearly explained in plain English, backed up with hundreds of fascinating colour photos. All common problems are covered, with plenty of tried and tested solutions provided. The conveyancing process is explained in full, along with advice on how to get the best from estate agents, solicitors, surveyors and auctioneers, as well as how to get the right mortgage when supply is rationed. SELLING How to sell successfully in a market downturn and manage each stage of your sale How to protect yourself from 'gazundering', collapsing chains, down-valuation and identity theft Getting the best price for your property How to minimise estate agents' fees How to make big savings with DIY selling online BUYING How to spot the best properties and negotiate a bargain Picking the right mortgage deal How to protect yourself from gazumping and collapsing chains Buying on a budget - first-time buyers, co-buying, shared ownership and grants Buying flats and leasehold properties Buying for profit - the secret to successful letting and refurbishing

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26645 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 210 pages

About the Author
Ian Rock, an experienced chartered surveyor with many years' experience of buying, selling and letting property, is the author of our Victorian House Manual, 1930s House Manual, Home Extension Manual and Loft Conversion Manual.

Customer Reviews

Very good quality book
We've moved house several times over the years and it always a bit of a nightmare. With memories of Haynes car manuals I thought this would be `useful but dull' so I was pleasantly surprised at the quality look and feel. Compared to cheaper books I've read, it's literally streets ahead. What we really like is the practical way its laid out, so you can see each stage you're at in your sale or purchase. It uses a lot of up-to-date photography of people viewing, house types, residential areas, estate agents in action (!) etc. My wife's been glued to it, as it's actually a pretty good read with some real life disaster stories etc.
With the housing market no longer in freefall and recovering, don't be put off by the word `downturn'on the cover. It does the whole market cycle through booms as well as busts! Whatever the market's doing, this seems to pretty much cover it all, from choosing the right area and mortgage, understanding leaseholds, solicitors v. DIY conveyancing, and there's also chain-breaking techniques to get things moving as well as auctions/sealed bids and preventing gazumping/gazundering.

I liked the fact it's up-to-date about HIPS and surveys but there's quite a more detail about conveyancing that most people will need. One small criticism is that it assumes everyone's got internet access, specially when it comes to selling privately. But definitely a first stop for the average punter whether you're a first timer or, like us have been around the property block!