Finding a home that’s right for you means taking lots of things into consideration. Although the process can be a bit different depending on whether you are looking to rent or buy, there are certain “fixed” factors you should consider when making your decisions - regardless of whether you’re a buyer or renter.

Next Steps

The first step you should take is to decide on a specific area, or focus on a radius around a central point (such as your place of work) that you’d like to live in. For those who have children, it’s often proximity to a certain school that can play a big role in determining this. Once you have an area in mind, you can then start looking at the different types of properties available that suit your budget. 

Budget

It’s important to be clear on what your budget is, as it can save you a lot of time and hassle in narrowing down exactly the type of property you can go for. For example, those with smaller budgets in larger cities such as London may find that flats, as opposed to houses, are what they can afford. 

For those renting, there aren’t financial commitments such as a large deposit or stamp duty to take into account. However, for those looking to buy a house, these financial implications need to be taken into consideration, as they can affect your overall budget. For example, buying a property for £500,000 will require a larger deposit and have a stamp duty obligation compared to buying a property for £295,000, which is under the stamp duty threshold.

Transport links

When looking for your next house, it’s important to think about whether you need to have good rail connections and motorway links available. For some people, being within walking distance of a station is a must. For others, if they drive to work, not living too far from good motorway connections is essential.

Schools

Many people decide on an area based on the proximity to good schools, and for many parents being near a good school is the most important factor when looking for a house. This is especially important for those hoping to fall within the correct catchment area for a particular school. Some areas are also known for their exceptional private schools, so whilst the catchment area is not applicable in this instance, finding a house nearby is certainly a priority for many couples. 

Proximity to amenities

Depending on your lifestyle, it may be useful to be near amenities such as restaurants, bars and shopping centres. For those with dogs, the proximity to local parks is bound to be a crucial factor.

Working with estate agents

Once you have thought about some of the points above, it’s a good idea to have a browse online to see what properties are available in your price range. Having a look at property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla can give you a feel for the market and compare houses to each other. You can commonly see distances from local train stations, motorway networks and local schools in the property listings. On some portals, the price per square foot is also outlined, which can be a handy tool for comparing the value of different properties. 

While looking for a house online is a great option to start with, it’s also worth popping by a few local estate agents’ offices and discussing your needs with them. In a digital, fast-paced world, it’s surprising how effective the traditional “properties in the window” approach can be. Many people still walk past agents’ offices and stop to see what’s available. 

After your initial meeting with an estate agent, it’s a good idea to register your details with them, as many times agents are able to inform you of properties that are just about to come onto the market. In today’s competitive property market, the gap between an agent signing a contract with a vendor and the property being launched on the open market can be just wide enough to get ahead of the competition and give you an opportunity to secure your home. 

Summary

Although there’s a lot to think about when looking for a house, the process can be simplified by doing your research and speaking to local estate agents who know the area well. 

It’s a good idea to be specific with your requirements and have a budget in mind, as this can help speed the process and pinpoint the exact type of property you know you can go for. Some of the key factors to bear in mind are the area, whether you need to be around certain transport links and other amenities, and whether being near schools is important. 

Once you have this “shopping list”, it’s time to start looking online and get a feel for the property market in the area you’re looking to move to. At the same time, registering your details and speaking with local estate agents can really help you speed up this process. You’ll have a professional team of people who’ll have their finger on the pulse and be able to help you find your perfect home in a flash.