Property report: get the low down on your new home

Looking for your dream home is one of the most exciting parts of the home buying journey. But it’s also a pretty big decision, so it’s important to get it right. 

With our Property Report, you’ll be able to see key information about your potential new home and how it aligns with your mortgage options.

What is the Mojo Property Report?

When you get a mortgage in principle from Mojo, we’ll offer you the option to get a free Property Report too. This gives you a wealth of information about the property you’re interested in, helping you build a clearer picture of what it might be like to live there. 

What to expect from our Property Report

Once you’re invited to use our Property Report, simply enter the address of the property you’re interested in to generate your report. This will include: 

  • Mortgage suitability: See at-a-glance any factors that could influence mortgage approval, such as flood risk or restrictive covenants (rules that limit what you can do with your property). Your Mojo mortgage broker can provide more guidance on any issues flagged in the report. 

  • Estimated buying costs: Get a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in buying the property, including minimum deposit needed, estimated mortgage repayments, Stamp Duty Land Tax costs (or Land Transaction Tax for properties in Wales), typical conveyancing fees and more. 

  • Property features: From when the property was first built to the type of windows fitted, the report will tell you details you (and your lender) might want to know about the property. 

  • Energy information: Find out the property’s main fuel source and its current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, including its potential rating after recommended upgrades. 

  • Connectivity: Check the predicted broadband speeds and local mobile network coverage to ensure the property meets your work-from-home and lifestyle needs.

  • Council Tax: See the property's band and the estimated annual cost. This figure should be verified on the local council’s website.

  • Market overview: See a snapshot of nearby properties for sale and recent sold prices, giving you a useful benchmark for the property's current market value.

  • Area deep dive: Explore details of nearby schools and transport options, giving you a feel for the local area.

  • Next steps: Get information on the next steps of the home buying process, from making an offer to getting your mortgage. 

While our Property Report gives you some really handy information, you shouldn’t make your purchasing decision solely based on it. It’s always recommended to view the property at least a couple of times, and look into a homebuyers’ survey for detailed information about the specific property and its condition. 

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Your Mortgage Expert is on hand to help

Our qualified mortgage brokers can help you to understand how the property you choose might impact your mortgage options. 

6 things to look out for before making an offer

Deciding a home is ‘the one’ and committing to making an offer is a huge step - so it’s important to do your due diligence. Here are six tips to help.

1. Scope out the location

You can change a house, but you can’t change its location. Use online resources (and our Property Report) to conduct a deep dive into the neighbourhood. Investigate local transport links, any major development plans, flood risks and crime rates. A few hours of research could help you understand the area’s short and long-term potential.

2. Look out for potential future expenses

It’s recommended to get a property survey conducted by a certified professional eventually, but you can spot potential red flags during your viewing. Look out for signs of damp (musty smells, peeling paint), ask when the home’s heating system was installed and enquire about any renovation work that has been conducted in the past. This’ll give you a sense of future costs that might come your way.

3. Check out the whole space

It’s likely you’ll focus your attention on the main rooms of the home to make sure they meet your expectations. But don’t overlook other spaces, such as the loft, cellar or outbuildings. Make sure there’s adequate access to these areas, and that they’re kept in good condition.

4. Calculate the running costs

A property’s running costs will take a big chunk out of your monthly budget, so it’s a good idea to get a feel for how pricey it might be. You’ll be able to find some info such as the Council Tax band yourself, but your seller or estate agent can get you an estimate of other regular bills, such as electricity or home insurance. 

5. Don’t rely on just one viewing

Viewings are often scheduled during a quiet weekday afternoon. To get a true feel for the area, it’s a good idea to visit at different times. For example, visiting during the morning rush hour will allow you to see what the commute’s really like, or viewing a property in the evening can help to gauge how loud the area is at night. This will help you to discover if the reality of living there matches your expectations.

6. Assess the average house growth in the area

Use online property platforms to look at average house price growth in the area - is the value of property in the neighbourhood rising, stagnating or falling? A strong resale value can be important, particularly for first-time buyers who may be looking to move up the property ladder quickly. It’s often better to buy a modest house on a great street than the best house in an area where prices are declining.

How to get your Property Report

1. Tell us a bit about you & the property you’re looking for

No lengthy phone calls or branch visits. It takes just a few minutes to kick-start your mortgage journey online.

2. Find out how much you can borrow

Based on the information you provide, we can often generate an expert-verified Mortgage in Principle, giving you an idea of your home-buying budget.

3. Get the insights on a property you love

Once you’ve found a property you love within your budget, enter the address into our Property Report to help build a better property-buying picture. 

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“Once you’ve viewed your dream property and you’re confident it’s the right choice for you, it’s time to put in an offer. It’s tempting to get carried away and offer whatever it takes to get it off the market, but remember that your lender will conduct their own valuation to make sure the property is worth what you’re buying it for. Make sure your offer is realistic to avoid running into problems later.”

John Fraser-Tucker, Head of Mortgages

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mortgage options

Ready to explore your mortgage options?

If you’ve found a property and had an offer accepted, tell us a bit about you and the property and we’ll book you in with your Mojo Mortgage Expert to review your options. We’ll compare thousands of deals to provide a tailored mortgage recommendation based on your chosen property and financial circumstances.