This section may seem very obvious. So skip it if you’re clear on what you want and where you want to live. Otherwise read on. (We get very good feedback on it).
The clearer you are on exactly what you want the quicker you’ll find it. If you’re just dipping your toe in the water and seeing what takes your fancy the problem will be you’ll be inundated with thousands of properties.
After a few weeks you’ll start getting a feeling of deja vu. “Didn’t I look at that fisherman’s shed in the Outer Hebrides last month? Errr…”
If you’ve got the time, great. But if you want to move fast narrow your options down so you can cut a swathe through the numerous possibilities on offer.
If you’re not sure about what you want and where you want to live, try this:
First consider what can you afford? Think of your ideal property, and then lower your sights down to what you’d be prepared to put up with.
Get a Mortgage in principle.. This will give you a clear idea on how big a mortgage you can borrow.
Then think about What location?
Where do you want to buy? What part of the country or city? How close to a particular school, job / commuting access etc.
Bear in mind the differences in price of being just in or just out of a fashionable area. And remember that once run down areas can become very expensive – after the students, artists and sundry bohemians made them trendy while they were cheap. (But beware the dangers of ” ddresses” ie buying near a trendy area on the basis that you’re actually in the trendy area when, no, actually, you’re not. Read more)
If a new transport link – or other facility – is going to be built nearby then a property could soar in value
What size do you need? How many rooms / bathrooms? Want a garden? and so on.
By Getting a Mortgage in Principle you will have an idea of what size you can afford in your chosen location.
If you don’t have a clear idea on what you’re looking for and can’t narrow down your options it could make your search longer and impractical.
Checking the Area
The internet has made available a wealth of information on all the different factors affecting each area of the UK.
A lot of this is marketing information that previously was only available to commercial companies planning their sales campaigns etc.
However now you can get a picture of the area you’re thinking about living in. For example, details on schools, health, crime, social conditions, services, facilities and much more.
If you want to us to read a quick guide to the various ways you can do this click here.