Tackling a house move with purpose
- francesca6912
- May 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Bespoke buying agents Otters Home Search reveal their top tips for putting in the groundwork to ensure a successful property search.
Moving house is an exciting life event but one that comes, unavoidably, with a big admin load. Be aware of what’s involved in advance and you can be on the front foot and approach the process with energy and efficiency. Here are five things to prioritise to make a house move dream a tangible reality.
Get your finances in order
Speak to a mortgage broker. They’ll help you understand how much money you can really borrow with all the small print covered so you can focus the price range of your search from an informed position. Their fees will need to be accounted for too, alongside other professionals you instruct and any services you’ll need.
Don’t forget:
Stamp Duty - Click HERE for Stamp Duty Calculator
Property insurance – variable on size and value of property and contents
Buying Agent Fees – typically 1.5% - 2.5% + VAT of purchase price
Conveyancing solicitors – variable on value and complexity of transaction
Building surveyor – variable on size and age of property
Removals – variable on quantity and distance of relocation
2. Be proceedable
If you need to sell your house before you buy a new one, get it on the market as soon as possible. The further along this process you are the better. It’s an awful lot easier to negotiate a delay on the sale of your property than putting in an offer on a new home without being in a position to move and ending up disappointed.
Think ahead about:
Where you want to list your property for sale
Getting your house photoshoot-ready
Any marketing deadlines to consider
Being prepared for open days and viewings
3. Decide what kind of property you want
What you need from your home is unique to you. From bearing in mind a growing family or ageing relatives to allocating space to work or entertain in, the size, number and function of rooms in a property is important, as is the overall layout and aesthetic. It’s not realistic to entirely future proof, but it’s still worth evaluating your lifestyle and how it might evolve.
Consider what matters most to you:
Shared multi-use versus compartmentalised living space
A building’s character and practical features
Availability of outside storage and private parking
Aspect and size of your garden and maintaining it
4. Location and lifestyle
Identify a core area for your property search with reasons for it. The more scatter gun your approach geographically, the more variables you’ll need to consider, which could make decisions harder. Know what you want the location to offer, be it good schools or green spaces nearby. The perfect house might end up grating on you if you spend your life in the car.
Key factors to weigh up:
Work commitments and reliance on transport links
Length of the school run – including rush hour traffic
Distance to shops and entertainment
Access to local amenities
Desire for peace and quiet
5. Understand timescales and motivation
The more actively you plot out your next steps, the more clarity you can bring to your search. If your timings are too open ended, there’s a risk you’ll keep waiting in case a better option comes to the market. How long you plan to own a new property also matters, the cost of improvements to your ‘project house’ may not stack up if you only stay in it for a short period of time.
Be mindful of:
Deadlines such as school admission or the start of a new job
Upcoming personal and financial milestones
Whether you see your home as a lifestyle choice or an investment
Opportunities to generate income from your new property
Please GET IN TOUCH to discuss your move.
Abbie - 07400 736436
Francesca - 07900 905764