Why house hunting is like running a marathon

Why house hunting is like running a marathon

Having run the London Marathon in 2019, I am a huge fan of the event. When April rolls around, I love going into London to cheer on the runners knowing that the boost from the crowds can make all the difference. As a passionate runner, I have often felt that there are many similarities in the approach to my favourite pastime and to my work life – mainly the preparation, the endurance and getting over the finish line.

So why is house hunting so similar to running a marathon and what lessons can we learn from it? Runners are trained to work through four distinct phases: Base, Build, Peak and Taper and these stages very much correlate to the home search process.

Base phase:

Much like buying new trainers and all the gear at the outset, there is a lot of preparation to take on board at the start of a house search.

• Registering with agents and ideally going to visit them in person
• Visiting different areas to get an idea as to location and whether it is commuter-friendly
• Researching house prices in different areas
• Setting up alerts on property search engines and keeping on top of what is being added or reduced
• Getting your home valued by a range of estate agents
• Drawing up a list of likes and dislikes – where are you happy to compromise and what is essential

Build phase:

This is when the reality of the distance sets in and that there is a lot of training to undertake which will be time consuming – in the same way there is much to build upon during this stage when house hunting.

• Time needed to commit to the search. During this stage you may well find that many weekends are taken up with viewing houses or time taken out during the week to visit different schools
• Checking school catchment areas and entry requirements and school transport options
• Taking time to visit preferred locations and take a walk up the High Street and stop for a drink in a local coffee shop to get a feel for the town or village
• If sport is important then visiting the local golf clubs or tennis clubs or gyms
• Surfing some online forums such as mumnet/netmums, or taking a look at local community Facebook pages to get an idea of what is available in the area
• Research is still very much key at this stage and ensuring that the right property is in the right location and importantly at the right price

Much like sporting injuries, such as sprains or cramps, there are often setbacks during this stage such as offers not being accepted, losing out on a sealed bids process or finding out negative results from a survey report.

Another major setback could be the realisation that you are not seeing all properties that are available as many homes are now sold ‘off market’ and are not in the public domain. Given our links with local agents, Chiltern Relocation’s clients are in a fortunate position to benefit from ‘off market’ viewings.

This is one of the hardest stages in making sure that you keep on track of your house search.

Peak:

After all the research and following possible setbacks, now is the time to get an offer accepted and successfully over the finish line to exchange and completion.

This stage can be tough as it often feels like you are hitting the wall with the conveyancing process.  This can be down to searches taking time, problems with possible covenants on the property that are discovered at this late stage or issues arising from the survey which are still to be negotiated.

Taper:

Race time! Once the training programme has come to an end and now it’s time to taper the run ahead of race day. In much the same way, Chiltern Relocation is there to make sure that once the sale is agreed and competed (race run!) that we are still on hand to help with the all aspects of the move as part of the cool down.

We provide Area Orientation and Settling-In:

• Local Area Orientation: We offer tours to introduce the client to their new community, covering important aspects like healthcare, transportation, and local services and social amenities
• Cultural Integration: Some clients from abroad appreciate language classes, cross-cultural training, and general advice on living in a new country or city to help expatriates adapt to a new environment

How Chiltern Relocation helps at each stage of the ‘house hunting marathon’

Base: We arrange a meeting in person or a Skype chat to familiarise ourselves with your needs and the drivers for the move. We provide a detailed questionnaire so that we know exactly what you want.

Build: We preview and shortlist properties on your behalf so you are ready for your Viewing Day. An enormous amount of research and preparation goes into the day to make sure that your time is used effectively. We provide information and insights as to local schooling options from state to private to grammar. We offer commuting advice. We offer the opportunity to see off market properties.

Peak: We are skilled at negotiating and help to ensure that you pay the right price for your desired property. We have excellent links with local estate agents and solicitors and surveyors and make all the calls on your behalf to make sure that the conveyancing process stays on track.

Taper: We love nothing more than move in day! We help with utilities switch over and furniture rental if needed. We remain on hand to help with any questions following the move and can put you in touch with trusted local landscape gardeners, builders etc. We can help with orientation and ensuring the move is a successful one!

If you need help to find your ideal home then we can help. With over 20 years’ experience in sourcing property and unrivalled local knowledge, Chiltern Relocation can take on the stress of the search and guide you through the all the steps to finding exactly what you are looking for.

For more information call 01494 672086 or email: enquiries@chilternrelocation.com or visit our website: www.chilternrelocation.com.