Ready to find your dream home? There’s no time like the present. We know how intense house hunting can be, especially when you want to find your forever home.
Most of the time we just jump online and see what is currently on the market. However, below we delve into some of the things to consider when looking for your dream home.
Thoroughly research the area
People tend to fall in love with an area rather than a specific house. They’ll find an area they want to live in, find the dream home, and that’s them sorted. You’ll want to do some extensive research into the location you want to live in.
Depending on what you’re after, you’ll want to know if it’s close to a city, or how close the nearest village is. You’ll also want to find out how close the supermarkets are, and whether there are any nice walks on your doorstep. You might also want to check out the public transport, is there a train station nearby?
An important factor to consider is what the crime rate is like in the local area. Whilst it may look like a nice area, digging into the local crime is very important. If you’ve got children, you’ll want to make sure it’s close enough to a school, sixth form or college.
Drive around your dream area
If you’ve found an area where you would like to live, make sure to drive around the area. From here you can see what the traffic is like, find the local amenities, and get familiar with the location
You might also want to walk around the area. From this you can gauge the noise pollution, see where any parks or alleyways are, and at night you can see what the light pollution is like.
The area will have busier roads and then more quiet ones, so take a nosey and see what houses are on the quieter roads. Typically, bigger and higher value homes are more set back from the road.
Don’t write off renovation projects
Obviously, renovation projects aren’t for everyone. However, if you are keen on this then you can often find a gem of a property. You would much rather go for a house which needs a bit of work on a great street, than a pristine home on a rubbish street.
If renovations projects aren’t for you, you can always go for a house which would be easier to improve. For example, if it just needs a new bathroom or kitchen, these can be done relatively quickly with the correct tradesmen.
Get property alerts
Many estate agents will offer alerts so that you know when a new property comes on the market. You can tailor these to your needs, for example, you can set the filters to a certain location, asking price, and number of bedrooms.
With alerts it means that you can be one of the first to register your interest to go and see the property. The last thing you want is to miss out on your dream home.
What added costs are there to factor in?
You’ll most likely have a budget in mind for your dream home. However, there are many of factors to consider. There will be the costs of the solicitors, the actual move itself, and possibly any mortgage advisors depending on who you choose.
There’s also the cost of the home insurance, and any renovation work you’d like to do. Whilst all of these costs can quickly add up, if you factor them into your budget then you shouldn’t be faced with any scary costs.
Try not to look at properties too far over your budget
We know that when it’s your dream home you can be tempted to go slightly over budget. But you need to be stern. If you have your budget set straight, then you can rule out properties which are largely above it.
Of course, you might want some leeway. For example, if you could afford to go 10% above your budget, you can include this higher house value into your searches. If your dream home comes up but it’s at the top end of your budget, then you have a big decision to make.
Have a look at other house prices on the road
You can have a look at any houses which are for sale, but you can also have a look at recent sold priced. This can also give you an indication of how much the house prices have increased by over the years.
Looking at other house prices on the road you’re looking at will help you gauge whether the house is on the market for a fair price. If the price is lower than expected, there could be some issues with the property or it’s grounds.
Similarly, if the house is way above the value of other homes on the road, it could be due to the property’s interior. People will tend to pay more for things such as a modern kitchen or bathroom, or items such as a new boiler or windows.
You’ll want to know why the owners are selling, it could be any number of reasons, but you don’t want it to be because of nightmare neighbours or issues with property flooding.
Think about the future
If you’re planning to have children in the future, then you’re going to want to consider schools in the local area. What are the local schools like? Is there a nursery nearby? Can they walk to the secondary school? There are many factors to consider when moving.
Another big element to consider is how close your workplace is. If you work from home part of the week, being slightly further away might not be as big of an issue. For most people though they like to be close to their work.
You also might want to be close to family, so being near transport links can be essential. It’ll be good to check how regular the buses are, where your nearest train station is, and how far away the location is from friends and family.
Research what home insurance you’d need to get
Depending on what type of property you are looking to buy, you’ll need the right home insurance. Your dream home might need a specialist home insurance policy, or even a specialist non-standard home insurance policy.
Need help with choosing your home insurance? Contact us today to speak with a member of our friendly team.
