Things you should know before buying an apartment

We all dream that one day we will find an amazing apartment that we will instantly love. The truth is that there is no such thing as a perfect apartment. There will always be something about that isn’t that perfect, but the sooner you realize that you’ll need to make a compromise, the faster you will find your ideal home.

To make buying an apartment in Belgrade and Novi Sad easier for you, we’ve come up with a simple guide that will help you make all the right decisions.

#1 Choose the right neighborhood

Check that the property you are interested in is close to the facilities you require. It’s good to live near shops, parks, schools, and gyms. You don’t need to buy an apartment near work, but it’s to have access to public transport.

#2 Noise level

What is the noise level of the unit development like? It’s worth visiting the apartment at the busiest time of the day to assess what the noise levels are like in both the building itself and the apartment you are considering. Looking carefully at the neighbors should be high on your checklist for buying an apartment in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

#3 Parking

If you have a car, this must be an essential question to ask. Will car parking be provided and do you have to pay extra for it? Check with the seller of the apartment if his/ her parking slot will be made available to you. You can always try to find a parking spot somewhere in the street, but having a personal parking space will save you much trouble, money, and time.

#4 Detaily inspect the building

Is your apartment located in the old or new building? What are the maintenance costs? Is the building structurally sound? What is the quality of noise insulation? If you have access to the basement, make sure to check it out, so you have better insight into the overall quality of construction and dampness. If it’s a new building, you can ask the investor or the construction company manager to tell you more about the type of material they used for the building, and your apartment.

If you’re buying an older apartment in Belgrade, then check out what work was done. If you notice recent repairs in the apartment, find out why they were made, what materials and solutions were used. Perhaps the suspended ceiling hides the real ceiling that is always wet, while the new wallpapers conceal cracks in the walls?

#5 Make sure you have 20% down payment

If you are planning to sell the apartment and pay for a new one with cash, then you don’t need to worry about down payment and mortgage.

However, if you are buying an apartment by getting a loan from a bank, then you need to make sure to have 20% down payment ready before you apply for the mortgage. Down payment says that you are prepared to commit to a 15 or 30-year mortgage and that you are a serious buyer. It also means that you are ready to commit and that you already went through a savings plan and that you are capable of paying off your bank loan.

#6 Stay within the budget

When you first start looking for apartments on City Expert, begin by choosing filters that will narrow your search. Choose the price range and look only for apartments that fit your budget. It’s better to start with smaller apartments and work your way up, then to start by going in way over your head. If you start by looking at apartments that are way over the budget, you’ll find yourself naturally predisposed against lower-priced homes.

#7 Save some cash for moving in

We know that you are tempted to go big or go home, but this is not the time to splurge on furniture, to buy decadent decor or to throw away everything old and replace it for everything new. Keep some money aside for the inevitable bundle of expenses that you’re going to discover when you move in.

You’ll probably need some furniture–even if you buy super low-end stuff, you’ll still need some. You may need appliances. You may need little things for minor home repairs.

#8 Renovations are costly

If you are buying an old apartment in Belrgade, you will need to quite a lot of money for renovations. In old apartments, you need to change everything, from flooring to installations, plumbing, and windows. Renovations will not only make your old apartment into a beautiful place to live, but they will also increase the value of your apartment.

Remember, it’s more important to renovate the wiring and plumbing than to get high-end furniture, so hire an expert to help you with renovations and save some cash for the moving in day.

#9 Look beyond paint and wallpapers

We’ve seen this many times. Buyers find a right apartment, but they are thrown away by furniture, decorations, and wall color. They often say that they don’t like the “vibe.” Considering that you will probably renovate the entire apartment, paint the walls and get new furniture, you need to look beyond what’s there.

It would be ideal to hire an architect who will draw a detailed plan of the apartment, and plan your living space. You can also use the City Expert floorplan to understand the real potential.

While you’re already there, looking beyond paint, make sure that the decorations aren’t covering for something bigger underneath, such as leaky roofs, or broken balcony fence.

#10 Pay attention to paperwork

Now, this goes without saying, but you need to read everything you sign carefully and to understand everything that you agreed to. Your lawyer and real estate agent can help you understand the entire home buying process, but you need to understand what are you getting into.

From the property owner’s documentation to the bank paperwork, you will be signing lots of things, and you need someone to help you. Hire a good lawyer with lots of experience in the world of real estate so you can smoothly finish the entire process and buy a perfect apartment in Belgrade.