STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SALE- DON'T FORGET YOUR ONWARDS SEARCH!
In this series we explore the steps estate agents take to ensure you maximise the value of you home whilst minimising the stress throughout the process. It's all in the planning! Although getting the sale of your own home is important we would argue choosing your next home is even more important!
Location, location, location!
The first step in finding the perfect home to buy is identifying the areas you want to live in. The community you live in is likely to be as important, if not more important, than the actual property you choose including the amenities that are important to you.
Budget and what you can afford will be a key deciding factor for where you will focus your property search.
Additionally in choosing where to live, you will want to take into consideration:
- The setting – whether it is more urban, suburban or rural
- Commuting time and ease of getting around, including transport links
- Proximity to schools, transport links, shops, and restaurants
- Parks and green spaces nearby
- Local community and the events then run
Plan for the future
If you are a first time buyer, you might just want to get your foot on the property ladder and move on in a couple of years. But most people end up living in their homes for many years (7 on average!), and it is vital to factor that in to your decision. If you don’t buy a home that is future-proofed, you can end up having to move more frequently, which is expensive.
So, when you are looking at a home to buy…
- Ensure it is a home you will grow into. People tend to like having more space as they grow older
- If you are planning to have children, or more children, do you have enough bedrooms?
- Think about future potential or changes you might be able to make to add space if you need it — Can you build into the loft or extend? Garden office?
Stretch yourself!
All other things being equal, owning a home almost always gets steadily more affordable every year you live there. That's why most buyers push their budget to maximse the move for them.
- Furniture and home improvement costs wither away after the first few years.
- Unless you lose your job or stop working for other reasons, you will almost certainly enjoy earnings that rise steadily year on year throughout your life.
- The cost of a mortgage does not increase year on year, varying at most with interest rates. That means that your mortgage will get steadily more affordable as a proportion of your income year by year.
