An Estate Agents Guide to House Hunting
Looking for a new house is an exciting, albeit sometimes stressful, process. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, or you’ve been to more house viewings than Kirsty and Phil, there will always be ways you can make the house hunting process easier, our estate agents are here to share some of those ways.
Work Out Your Budget and Stick to It
This one sounds obvious, but many people forget the first rule of house hunting, or they come up with an ‘ideal spend’ but then don’t limit their property search to homes in this bracket.
Our estate agents suggest you come up with a clear figure, and then stick to this very tightly. You also need to remember to factor in costs such as moving companies, Stamp Duty, and solicitors’ fees.
Decide What Type of Property You’re Looking For
To make your house hunt as successful as possible, you need to have a very clear idea of the type of property you are looking for. Decide what your minimum requirements are, and tell your estate agent, in detail, why these feature are important to you.
For example, if you want four bedrooms then make it clear that you want four bedrooms, if you actually want three bedrooms and an office, then your estate agent should know this, as this can affect your house hunt.
Don’t Overestimate Your DIY Skills
Our estate agents often hear the phrase ‘we’re happy to do work on a property’, and they respect the hustle. But it’s good to be clear about the extent of that work. Redecorating and fitting a new kitchen is one thing, dealing with subsidence or a new roof is another.
Be realistic about your DIY skills, or your funds to get things fixed, you don’t want to end up in over your head.
Trust Your Estate Agent
The more information you share with your estate agent, the better placed they are to help you find your perfect property. A good estate agent will probe to find out exactly how important certain aspects are, be honest with the estate agent, and be honest with yourself, to make your house hunting smooth sailing.