There are so many factors that come alongside finding your dream home. It’s one of the biggest and most important purchases of your life, which means taking the time to find the right property for you. Making a rash decision may be the wrong one, so it’s about taking the time to evaluate your priorities.
Before putting an offer in on a property, it would be wise to draw up a list of the crucial aspects that can be compromised to make a wise decision when on the hunt for your dream home. Here are some key tips to bear in mind:
1. Get friendly with the estate agent
If you believe that now is the right time to start the house hunt, getting familiar and building relationships with local estate agents would be worth getting familiar. They can give you the very best advice when it comes to information about the local area and the typical features and layouts within homes. Informing them about the style of property you have in mind, and a rough budget can help narrow down the search for your dream home. They may also give you a heads-up as soon as a suitable property comes on the market, so you’re ahead of the competition. Bear in mind that estate agents meet house hunters on a day-to-day basis, so you must give the impression that you’re a genuine buyer to prevent getting overlooked.
2. Consider the location
Location is one of the most important factors in finding your dream home. While you may have found your ideal property, it may not be situated in a location that you’re happy with. This will mean weighing up the two to determine what is most important to you. While you can change the features of your home to suit your needs in the years to come, you cannot relocate the property. Therefore, before making an offer, it would be worth researching transport links, crime rates, and local schools to help you make a better-informed decision on whether this is an area you’d be comfortable living in.
3. Downsize or upscale
One of the reasons why you may wish to move property may be because your current property no longer suits your needs. Many people choose to downsize once their children have flown the nest or are ready to retire and believe that the property is too large. However, upsizing is far more costly and may result in having to take out a bridge loan from Sachem Lending to help you purchase your new home when you haven’t yet sold your existing property. You won’t miss out on your dream property once they are listed on the market by having a temporary loan.
4. Check for issues
It’s easy to get carried away with a property’s aesthetic during a viewing without considering the practicalities. While you can decide to have a survey taken out by a professional, there are obvious aspects that can be spotted by you, as follows:
- Check the walls for damp and mold
- Check ceilings for cracks, leaks, and mold
- Be mindful of structural issues
- Study plumbing
These aspects can be resolved but should be raised with the estate agent should you have any concerns.
