When you are choosing a new home there’s a lot to think about – where you want to live, how much space you need and how much DIY you are prepared to do are just some of the decisions you’ll have to make.
Here are some of the things to think about – break them down into ‘definite wants’ and ‘wishes’. You’ll need to decide on the most important ones before you start looking, but be prepared to be flexible.
Once you’ve decided on one or more areas where you’d like to live, you need to look at as many properties as possible to get an idea of what you like and how the prices compare.
Let them know what you are looking for and what your price ceiling is. You can get contact details for most estate agents from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or the Yellow Pages.
They usually include a weekly property section, as well as properties that are being sold direct – not through estate agents.
Good websites to start with are:
www.rightmove.co.uk or
www.findaproperty.com
Tips
When looking at properties, take someone with you as they may pick up things you miss and you can discuss it with Have a second viewing at a different time on another dayIf you want a newly built home, you may be buying ‘off plan’. This means that you make a decision to buy before your home is finished, after looking at the drawings or a show home.
Timing tip
You can appoint a conveyancer while you are looking for a property to help things move faster when you find
