Frequent Questions for Buyers

Where can I get advice on arranging a mortgage?

Arron James Karis have an arrangement with a specialist mortgage broker who can give you advice mortgages.

How much are solicitor's fees?

Solicitors conveyancing fees vary dependant on the property being Purchased or Sold.

Arron James Karis can arrange for our one of our recommended local solicitors to give you a quote.

What areas do you cover?

Arron James Karis’ main office is based in Hillingdon Village, covering the whole of the Hillingdon borough and surrounding areas including West Drayton, Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Hayes, Iver, Langley and Slough.

Do you accompany viewings?

We will endeavour to accompany all viewings wherever possible; there may be times when it will not be possible to accompany viewings.

  • If the viewing is after office hours.
  • If the viewing is booked at short notice and we are fully booked in the diary.
  • If the vendor is happy to conduct their own viewings.

What is the difference between Freehold and Leasehold?

Freehold

When you are a freeholder you own the exclusive rights to both the building and the land on which it sits. Nobody else has a claim to that land and you can do with it as you please within planning laws and legislation. Once the property is purchased there are no additional or ongoing costs.

Leasehold

When you've purchased a house or flat with a lease you  own the right to live in that house and flat rather than the land itself.

Leases last for a set period of time; Leases can be as low as 75 years or as high as 999 years, be wary of leases below 75 years and they can be hard to arrange a mortgage on.

Also once you've purchased a leasehold property you can incur additional costs from the freeholders both as one off events and ongoing charges. These can include ground rent, service charges and other management fees.

Which type of Survey should I have?

There are various types of Survey, the most popular being a Mortgage Valuation, other Surveys can be carried dependant on the properties condition.

Mortgage valuation:

This is carried out on behalf of the mortgage lender to assess the value of the property and will only provide a guide to the overall condition of the building.

As the purchaser you will often have to pay for it, it is not equivalent to a survey carried out on your behalf.

Homebuyer's report:

Also known as a 'Homebuyer Survey and Valuation' this is a more detailed survey that is carried out on the purchaser's behalf and will assess the general condition of the property including dampness, timbers etc and evaluate any major faults that may affect the properties value.

A Homebuyer's report is generally considered to be an adequate assessment of the property however, if you are buying an older character property, it is advisable to opt for a full Building survey.

Building survey:

Also known as a Structural survey, this is a more in-depth study that culminates in detailed and lengthy report on the condition of the property. A Building survey will fully assess the condition of the house or flat in relation to buildings of a similar age and in relation to modern buildings.