Three things that people get wrong when house hunting
Does this sound like your approach to house hunting?
- Hit the property search engines such as Rightmove and Zoopla
- Register for alerts on the search engines
- Start viewing selected houses generated by the alerts
In these days of online searching, it is easy to conduct all your research via property search engines. These three steps are the ones taken by the vast majority of house hunters as they sit back and let technology take charge of their search. Whilst property search engines are a vital tool, they are also not always the most successful way to find your perfect home. All too often when it comes to getting out and viewing properties generated by the search engines there are two results. Either that they have already gone – resulting in disappointment that others have beaten you to seemingly available properties, or that or that the property doesn’t match up to expectations in the flesh – meaning a wasted journey, time and energy.
What three steps should you be taking?
1) Know what you want
First of all, you need to sit down and make a list of what you want – and why. With all home searches there will inevitably be a compromise, so knowing what you want and what you need at the outset is key. Chiltern Relocation recommends writing down a list of ‘must-have’s and ‘would like to have’. This will include, for example, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms, if you want a garage, how big a garden would you like etc. Will you be working from home? Do you need a study or maybe two? Would a garden room be an option for a home office? Then draw up a list of your ‘would like to have’. This may include elements such as a south facing garden, an extra en-suite, a garden room, space for a treadmill, a carriage driveway, a dressing room etc.
By being clear at the outset you will understand what is essential for your move when viewing properties and where compromises can be made. At Chiltern Relocation our first job is to really understand the driving force behind our client’s move. Only when there is a full understanding as to what they want and what they need can we start to find their perfect home. Try answering these four questions to help focus your search.
Click here for more detailed questions to help you drill down to your essential requirements.
2) Draw a circle around potential locations
By setting out a radius of the areas you are keen to explore you can really start to research possible options. Clients have come to us having moved too quickly without fully researching the area to find they are not in the correct school catchment or the commute is not right or they just don’t feel at home there. When looking at possible areas, consider the following:
- Would you prefer to be in a village or a town?
- The proximity to major road links and the possibility of airplane noise?
- Where are the local shops, restaurants and social amenities?
- Do you need to be within a certain area for school catchment?
- Which roads are the sought-after and which ones should you avoid?
What about commuting?
Often families approach us keen to live the rural dream but the reality of commuting times – and therefore time away from home and the family – is important to factor into consideration. Are you happy to drive to a station every morning, find parking and drive back in the evening or would you prefer to be able to walk or cycle? How long is your commute at the other end? These are all questions that need addressing before you can consider which areas to choose. Refer to our commuter train times guide for detailed information on optimal travel times.
3) Get in the car and drive to the areas
On our Viewing Days we cover a lot of ground and show clients different areas, the social amenities, the schools and commuting options in order to get a sense of what would work for them. It is only by actually getting out into the area and starting to get a feel that you can then really narrow down your search. Whilst viewing different areas, it is also a good opportunity to get to know the local estate agents by visiting their offices so that they can put a face to a name and know that you are committed to the search. This way they will have you at the forefront of their minds when out valuing potential properties meaning you might get a first look at a property before it goes to the market – and of course – the property search engines.
Chiltern Relocation Viewing Days
Many clients come to Chiltern Relocation completely unsure about location – they know they want to move but do not know whether they would prefer a town or a village and which location they prefer. This is why we have our Viewing Days so we can cover a lot of ground and really narrow down options. Indeed, on one Viewing Day with a couple, we covered three counties: Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire giving the clients the opportunity to really get a feel for the pros and cons of each area.
By following Chiltern Relocation’s three steps you will have a clear idea of what you want in terms of property needs (and where you can compromise), where you would ideally like to focus your search and what each location has to offer having visited the areas. Once you have achieved these three steps you will be in a strong position to be successful with your home search.
Still need help in finding and securing your ideal home?
If you still need help and are keen to know how Chiltern Relocation is able to help and what makes us different to estate agents and search engines then read our blog: What does a Relocation Agent do differently to find the perfect home? – Chiltern Relocation
Tel: 01494 672086. Email: sharon@chilternrelocation.com or visit www.chilternrelocation.com
