Finding a Property

Whether you are a first time purchaser or are simply looking to change your current property for a different home, you must have a clear and realistic idea of how much you can afford to spend on your new house. There is little point in dreaming of a castle in Kensington on a cottage income, but you will know the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you require. Many buyers prefer to buy a new property - click here for more information.

Work out your finances and get an idea of you spending power by visiting a selection of mortgage providers and obtaining an ‘agreement in principle'. This is the sum of money that the lender will advance on the purchase of a property, subject to stated conditions. You need to have in mind a clear idea of your ideal property – where you would like it to be situated, its size and its proximity to schools, shops and leisure outlets. Then you also need to have an idea of the minimum that you will accept, because in property purchase, the necessity of compromise is ever present and if you can identify the degree of that compromise in your search for a home, your task will be that much easier.

Now start your search for your dream home. It will help you if you can limit the search to a defined area. The wider the geographical region, the longer the search will take as the number of prospective properties to be visited will become unmanageable. Decide whether you want town or country, but consider the drawbacks of each and don't settle on a location because of a wonderful visit in the summer sunshine - the winter reality may be an unpleasant shock!

Make a list of your requirements such as schools, roads and rail links, shops and proximity to family. When you pick a particular area, it is wise to do some research to get accurate information on factors such as criminality, council services and health provision before you decide. There is a wealth of information available on the internet, but nothing beats a series of visits at differing times of the day and week to see what traffic conditions are like, or what happens when the pubs turn out. It is also not a bad idea to call in at the local shops or leisure centre to sound out the locals about what they think of the area.

When you have more or less decided where you are going to live, you must locate the right home. Most people use the services of an estate agent. Locate the agents in your chosen locality from the internet or Yellow Pages and ask about suitable properties. It is of an enormous help in your search that you give an accurate idea of your requirements, because they exist to sell and if you are recognised as a serious purchaser, they will do everything in their power to suit your needs by posting you details of all properties that match your criteria and arranging viewings.
You will also find searching the internet a great means of property location. Most Estate Agents have their own sites containing details of available property and increasing numbers of vendors are independently advertising their property on the web.

Finally, be imaginative. You may not be able to afford that celebrity location, but search for an area that's ‘on the up'. Not so long ago Notting Hill was definitely a place to avoid – look at it now