Everyone wants their own personal palace, somewhere they can call home. Whether you are looking to buy a house or flat or have decided to rent, finding the ideal property is important. The last thing you want is to end up in a place that doesn’t really fit your needs or your expectations.
Finding your ideal home involves a mix of doing your research properly while understanding exactly what you want.
Looking For Your Ideal Home
Your Budget
One major factor that will determine what you can buy, or rent is the money you have available. If you’re buying that’s going to mean not only the mortgage but the deposit as well as extra costs like stamp duty and solicitor fees. If you’re renting, there will be the deposit, the monthly rent and perhaps having to buy things for an unfurnished flat or home. Into that you need to add the cost of travel to work and the general cost of living in the area.
If you are working on a tight budget, you will obviously need to be a lot more flexible in your approach but building a few lists can at least help you focus your attention in the right area and improve your chances of finding what you want.
The Style of Home
Some people prefer older properties, others are looking for new builds. A lot will depend on the area that you live in and how many types of property of each are available. New builds generally come with all mod-cons, are insulated and have up to date, energy efficient heating. Older properties might need a bit of work but can seem sturdier and have more character features.
The Must-Have Features
Your first list should contain what you definitely need when looking for your ideal home, those items you don’t want to compromise on.
This might include the area that it’s located – for various reasons you might want to be close to your place of work or local amenities such as supermarkets. You may be content to be close to a train or bus station that gets you to work without too much cost or inconvenience. Other must-have features will include the number of bedrooms, perhaps a separate living room and kitchen, a garden, or you may want to be close to a good local school.
Adding a Wish List
Your wish list is everything that you would ideally like but could compromise on if the stars are all in alignment. This could include a conservatory, a good-sized dining room, an office area or a large kitchen. You’ll probably want at least some of these features, but they are not vital to making your decision (though they may be clinchers if you are debating between two or more properties).
Searching the Options
The good news is there are plenty of ways to view properties online and you don’t even have to leave your home. Your lists and preferences will give you the opportunity to refine your search from the outset. Most property and estate agent websites have all the information about the listed properties you need including decent images and sometimes of video of what the interior looks like. Try to create of a list of properties that fit your requirements then work on honing these down to the ones you really want to view.
Another option is to build a personal relationship with your local Northwood branch . They’ll be able to work directly with you and can use your lists to find properties that fit the bill. Their local knowledge will be invaluable, especially if you’re moving into a new area. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
