subject: When Looking To Buy A House, What Should You Think About When Planning Your Search [print this page] When Looking To Buy A House, What Should You Think About When Planning Your Search
The decision has been made and you are now about to begin the search for a new home. You have literally thousands of choices when it comes to possible homes to purchase, so its important to make sure you narrow down your possible selection before you start looking.
Below, we look at the top five things to consider before you begin looking at properties.
Location Some would argue that the location factor beats the price decision when choosing a home, as you will want to live in an area that meets all of your requirements. There are many things to take into account, schools, transport, crime rates and the general neighbourhood, which means that researching the area before you begin looking at houses in the town or city even more vital than worrying too much about your budget.
Price The budget is normally the biggest factor when it comes to deciding where you want to live, as if you do not have the money or can not raise the required mortgage, you will be wasting your time and the sellers time when looking at homes out of your price range. Speak to your estate agent and independent financial advisor and work out where you stand to really make sure you understand the maximum price you are going to be able to afford, and then start looking at homes in a budget that you know you can afford.
Type Of Property Do you want a flat, a house or a cottage by the sea? Do you want a new build, older house or something that is in total need of renovation and you can stamp your mark on. All of these questions need to be answered before you begin looking for your home as you need to try and squeeze down your possible property pool else you will spend weeks looking at properties that simply do not meet your requirements.
Number Of Bedrooms Have you already got the sound of tiny feet or are you planning to hear them in the near future? If you already have children then you will know how many bedrooms you will need, but if you think kids could be on the horizon within the next few years then it makes total sense to get a home now that will cope with any extra additions in the future. If you plan to spend the next decade in the house, the last thing you need is to have no space and to have to live a really cramped life due to lack of planning.
Garden / Space For some people, the garden is one of the most important factors when buying a house, for others it's merely something they have to mow once a month and becomes an inconvenience. Although you can change a garden and design it to match your needs, it can also be worth while sussing out if you could maybe use the space to extend the property or if you could do something with it in the future, which can help to future proof the home as much as is possible.
