| Hunting down a new place to live can be one | | | | Be tough at this stage and don't try to fool |
| of the most stressful times of your life. | | | | yourself. The better the spec, the easier |
| | | | your search will be. |
| The pressure is on to find a property that | | | | |
| will fit the requirements of you and your | | | | Brief every estate agent |
| family over the next few years. It needs to | | | | |
| have enough space for you to grow into, and | | | | Most agents love it when active buyers trot |
| to meet the changing demands of family life. | | | | in through the door to present themselves, as |
| | | | it can make their job of matching sellers and |
| It also needs to be in exactly the right | | | | buyers a whole lot easier. Type up your brief |
| location, taking into account where you and | | | | and present it to every agent in the area. |
| your partner work, and where the children go | | | | Ask for their help to find a property that's |
| to school. You need to look at the position | | | | suitable. Smart agents will compare your |
| of local amenities, and whether the property | | | | requirements to their current housing stock. |
| is in the right place to fit your desired | | | | If they don't have anything straight away, |
| lifestyle. | | | | you can be sure you will be the first to know |
| | | | when a suitable house does come up. If an |
| On top of that the house needs to be in a | | | | agent can get a potential buyer into a |
| good state of repair, or fit the requirements | | | | property before it's been advertised, they |
| of any renovation project you're looking for. | | | | could save themselves a lot of time and |
| And of course you need to find a property | | | | money. It's at this stage that you should |
| that sits within a certain price bracket. | | | | also ask agents how often homes of this type |
| | | | come up for sale at this price. If your spec |
| When all of those conditions have been | | | | is wildly unrealistic, the agents will tell |
| satisfied, you then need to make sure it's a | | | | you, and you should revisit it. |
| house that you can fall in love with! Phew... | | | | |
| it's a lot of hassle, and you can see why | | | | Read everything |
| some people prefer to stick with property | | | | |
| letting, no matter how much money they are | | | | To find a property you should buy and read |
| wasting. At least when you rent you can move | | | | every local newspaper and visit property |
| on after a few months if you get your choice | | | | portals every day. New houses come onto the |
| of property wrong. | | | | market each day, so you need to ensure you |
| | | | are on top of everything. Keep a list of |
| To help you find a property that's perfect | | | | properties that you have looked at and why |
| for you, here are a number of things you can | | | | you rejected them. This will help to stop you |
| do to ensure you are in the right place at | | | | from duplicating your efforts. |
| the right time when the right property | | | | |
| becomes available. | | | | Pass the word around |
| | | | |
| Know what you want | | | | Don't forget to spread the word in the area |
| | | | you're looking to buy, especially if it's a |
| Before you start looking, draw up a detailed | | | | small community. Having a drink in the pub |
| spec for a house. Start with the "must haves" | | | | and chatting to the right person will help to |
| - the price it must be, location, the number | | | | open all the channels of local gossip and |
| of rooms you need, car parking, etc. Then | | | | information to you. It's possible to find a |
| move onto the "nice to haves"; the things | | | | property before the owners have formally put |
| that will make the property perfect for you. | | | | it up for sale. |