***Collaborative post***
Finding a new house is an exciting prospect but it’s not always plain sailing. Many prospective homeowners experience a rollercoaster ride and it can be difficult to find the perfect home. If you’re looking for a new nest, here are some top tips for a successful property search.
Set a budget
One of the most important tasks to cross off your list is to set a budget. Analyse your finances, figure out how much you can afford to pay as a deposit and explore mortgage offers. It’s wise to go into a search with a maximum price in mind and to filter results accordingly. If you set your budget too high before you’ve looked into mortgages properly, there’s a risk of falling head over heels for a house you can’t afford. Once you have an accurate figure, you can set your search criteria and let agents know how much you can spend.
Explore a diverse range of options
Many of us conjure up images of attending viewings, putting an offer in and moving into a new home a couple of months later when we think about buying property. In reality, there is an ever-growing range of options available to buyers and prospective homeowners. If you’re open to ideas, you could consider buying a plot of land and building a house, taking on a fixer-upper or getting advice about purchasing a new development from a buying off the plan guide. You may find that you can make your money stretch further and that there is less competition if you choose to explore these avenues rather than a more conventional transaction. If you are planning to do work on a house or even build a property, it’s essential to calculate costs in advance and make sure the project is financially viable.
Create a wish-list
Every buyer is unique and one person may have a very different wish-list from another. When you’re looking through listings and determining search criteria, think about what matters most to you. Is location the top priority or does your new home need to have a large garden or stunning views? Are you desperate for four bedrooms or do you dream of having an open-plan kitchen-diner? Try to be realistic when making your list. If you have a tight budget or there are very few houses on the market in your chosen location, you may need to compromise.
Arrange second viewings
During a first viewing, it’s natural to get carried away if you get that warm and fuzzy feeling when you walk through the door and you leave thinking that you’ve found ‘the one.’ No matter how much you think you love a house, always go back for another look. Use your second viewing to inspect every room closely and think about whether the property will work for you. If you still think it’s perfect after a second or third visit, this is a brilliant sign.
Are you on the hunt for a new nest? If you’re looking for the perfect home, take these tips on board.
