How Do I Transfer Utilities When Moving House?

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Moving house? Find out how to transfer utilities over efficiently so that you have all the services you need to make the most of your new place.

Within the last 12 months nearly 600,000 people consider themselves ‘just moved’, and around the same number consider themselves still ‘settling in’ to a new home. For those people, there’s a lot to do to make their new place a true home. Unpacking boxes, redecorating, getting to know the neighbours, maybe settling the kids into a new school – these sorts of tasks are the easy part of the stressful process of moving house.

Of course, there are some other less fun jobs to get done too, so that you’re completely set up to start this new chapter of your life. Transferring the utilities is one such job, but it’s an essential job to complete once you move. It’s not a fun task but the longer you delay it, the more you could overspend on expensive standard tariffs. You could also end up paying for utilities at your old home and your new home at the same time – something to avoid at all costs.

To help you get this essential job done when you’re moving house, here are some handy hints on how to transfer your utilities:

Who’s Providing You With Services?

One of the first things you need to do is find out who your providers are new and were before in your old home. It sounds simple but, maybe you have forgotten that you transferred between providers while in your old house. Some small energy suppliers have gone out of business in recent years so you may even have been transferred to a different energy supplier by the gas and electricity regulator. Collect all the information you need so that you know exactly who provided utilities to your own home, and who is currently providing utilities at your new home. Remember to find the information (if applicable) for:

Security system providers
Internet & phone line
Electricity
Gas
Oil
Water
Council tax

Contact Suppliers Early

If you can contact the providers about a fortnight before you actually move you can then get a head start on transferring your utilities. If not, 48 hours is just as helpful as there’s some notice to help get everything set up. This will mean that your utilities should be transferred on moving day but it’s always a good idea to contact the providers just to check they’re no longer charging you for your old home.

If you have moved before you get around to changing the utilities, get this particular task completed ASAP to avoid paying to run two homes. You’ll want to get the utilities transferred and let the new home’s current providers know that you’re transferring over. In all cases, make sure the utility providers you are choosing to use at your new home and from your previous address have your most current details in case they need to get in touch.

Take Meter Readings

It is important to take meter readings on the moving day from both your old and new homes.. This is to give to the utility companies if your final bill/first bill is not what you think it should be. This ensures that they know when you should be charged from, and what to charge the people who have moved out for their final bills. As an extra precaution take a photo of all meters.

More Handy Tips:

Just to make transferring utilities an even smoother process checkout these extra handy tips:

If you have a smart meter, check it is in smart mode before you move so that it is sending the most recent readings to your utility supplier
Check where you are with any current contracts as this could be a good chance to switch to a better provider or a cheaper tariff
Ask to be prioritised for connection if you are at pension age, disabled or otherwise vulnerable
If there is a meter in the new property, get the amount cleared by the supplier so you don’t take on the debt of the previous homeowner. You should also discuss how to use it, and the cost of removing it or switching it to pay monthly if that suits you better

You’re All Setup To Switch Utilities!

It may not be a fun job, but switching utilities is an essential job that can help you settle in comfortably in your new home as quickly as possible.

Store Belongings The Proper Way Before Moving to a New Build

November 11, 2021September 24, 2022 admin Leave a comment

If your new-build property doesn’t already have gas and electricity set up, you may need to keep some of your belongings in storage. Here’s how to do it right!

Moving into a newly built property can be extremely satisfying. This is an opportunity to make a home well and truly yours. You won’t need to clear out the last vestiges of those who lived there before you, or replace their antiquated or idiosyncratic decor. You have a completely blank canvas with which to express yourself. But moving to a new build comes with its own set of challenges. It may be unclear who supplies energy to the property as it is not yet occupied. If you’re self-building, you may not even have a gas and electricity supply to the property yet.

As such, you may need to keep some of your belongings in storage until your utilities are set up, and everything is read for you to move in. Work may need to be carried out around the home which would be much easier without having to navigate boxes of belongings. Furthermore, if you need to set up new utility supplies from scratch, it may be several weeks or even months before your new build is habitable. The energy experts at Papernest have some useful advice on setting up gas and electricity in a new build.

How can storage solutions help when moving into a new build?

A storage unit can help you in a number of ways when moving to a new build. It provides you with a dry, secure space to store your belongings while moving. This helps to prevent clutter in your new build while you’re still carrying out last minute work on the property. It can save you money on moving expenses, saving you from having to move all of your belongings at the same time.

A storage unit gives you the luxury of time, so that you can unpack and move your belongings in slowly, without spending your early days in your new home up to your elbows in boxes. Check out this brilliant self-storage price comparison chart to get the best deal.

What should I look for when setting up storage solutions?

While you’re waiting for everything to be ready in your new build, you may choose to keep some (or all) of your belongings in storage. It’s important to do this in a way that’s as flexible and cost-effective as possible for you. As such, these are the things you should look for in a storage services provider…

Free collection

The process of moving is costly enough as it is. Especially if you need to install new gas and electricity connections in your home, which may cost upwards of £3,000 per utility. Look for a storage supplier that will collect your belongings free of charge.

Flexible terms

You may only want to store your belongings for a couple of weeks. Or you may want to keep them in storage long-term to make the most of the usable space in your new home. As such, you should look for a storage service that provides flexible terms built around our needs.

No deposit

You want to keep your upfront costs as manageable as possible, so look for a storage solution that won’t expect you to pay a hefty deposit to secure your unit.

Fixed costs

When moving to a new home, every penny counts! So make sure you choose a storage provider that has fixed costs, sparing you any unpleasant price hikes. All of our storage costs are fixed for 12 months, so you know that you’ll never get any unpleasant surprises when you choose us!

How do I set up utilities in a new build?

A storage unit can help if you need store belongings before setting up utilities in a new build. But what’s the quickest and most cost-effective way to do this?

If you’re building your own property, you’ll need to contact the Distribution Network Operator and Gas Transporter in your area. These are the companies responsible for maintaining, managing and upgrading the National Grid’s gas and electricity network in your area. You can find yours by checking out the Energy Networks website here. They can guide you through the process of setting up a new connection and installing a meter. This typically takes around 6-8 weeks. This is not work that you can legally (or safely) do yourself. However, there is some ‘contestable’ work that may be done by a local contractor, potentially saving you money.

If your property already has a connection, you’ll want to find out who supplies energy to the property. You’ll most likely be on the supplier’s standard variable tariff which is inevitably their most expensive. Especially in the current market. The sooner you switch to a new tariff, the more you could save on energy.

7 Creative Storage Ideas for Small Apartments

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Living in a small apartment is great because it usually means easier maintenance and lower rent. However, no matter how cozy it is, every home requires optimization to make the most of its potential. Finding a suitable layout for each room and decluttering are the two main steps when maximizing the space in your home. Still, when downsizing after a move, it’s easy to forget that you’ll have much less space at your disposal. In such cases, you can make your relocation less stressful by choosing one of two options: either rent a storage unit or get resourceful with utilizing every inch of your home. To help you with it, we’ve come up with 7 creative storage ideas for small apartments.

Double-duty furniture

The key to successful optimization is to minimize the amount of furniture in your home to essentials only. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to sacrifice the comfort you’re used to – quite the opposite. Nowadays, many pieces of furniture have more than one function, giving you the space you need while satisfying functional demands. Some of them, like a pull-out sofa, drop-leaf table, or a folding workspace, will create more room in your apartment. In addition, there are other examples like ottomans and coffee tables with storage space, a bed with built-in drawers, and a resting chair with shelves that will get things out of your way. They come in different tasteful designs, adaptable to every interior style. Even though these pieces don’t have a big storage capacity, they can hide small items that create clutter.

Introduce helpful add-ons to your storage space

There are a lot of innovative accessories that could help you in more ways than you can imagine. Usually, their purpose is to better organize the inside of the cabinets. Cabinets come in specific sizes, but often only half of the space is utilized. Investing in upright plate holders, cabinet basket racks, door knife racks, under cabinet wine racks, and many others will prove to be a game-changer in small homes.

Using vertical surfaces and room corners

There are plenty of creative storage ideas for small apartments that will make your life easier. One of the best ones is utilizing the vertical surfaces of your home. Mainly, you can achieve this by adding shelves to different parts of the house. Still, it’s essential to maintain some kind of balance between functionality and aesthetics. Investing in such practical elements can also add value to the place, which will be a good return investment if you decide to sell. When choosing the right vertical solutions, pay attention to the way you install them and the weight they can support.

Vertical sliding organizers are also a great way of utilizing unusable surfaces. They can be bought or custom-made for your needs, and they perfectly fit in the kitchen and bathroom, in between appliances. Most homeowners use them for storing cleaning and laundry supplies, freeing cabinets for other items.

Pegboards

Another way of utilizing vertical space is by installing pegboards in some areas of the apartment. For example, they could store your pots, pans, cups, etc., in the kitchen. If installed properly, they can hold significant weight, allowing you to free a lot of space in your home. Pegboards can be used practically anywhere; you just need to get creative with the ways of “presenting” your stored items.

Try open shelves instead of cabinets

Cabinets and wardrobes fit into most home designs. However, we can never use the full available space inside them. To make them optimal, you’d need a lot of improvement, custom-made shelves, and creative ideas. Still, if you opt for open shelves instead of cabinets, you can control the space and thus use more of it. The only downside of these elements is the visibility of stored items. In such cases, you can either minimize the number of your possessions or use baskets or boxes to hide them. Naturally, you will need a good organizing system since the items are not in plain sight.

Floating furniture

The main goal of decluttering and optimizing your home space is easier maintenance and access to things. Small apartments have a lot of things by default, and even though, in theory, limited surfaces are maintained faster, that’s often not the case. Having to lift everything from the floor and get to hard-to-reach surfaces can be daunting. Thus, when deciding on the furniture and storage space, opt for floating pieces. They will make wiping the floors much easier.

Floor cabinets

Downsizing can be pretty stressful if you’re renting the place. Still, there are many practical tips to make things easier when moving into a smaller home. If you own your home and are free to make home improvements, you won’t ever have to worry about storage space again. You can create additional room by making raised storage floors. This hidden storage can be achieved in many ways, from using the space under the bed to re-purposing the space under and inside the stairs.

Conclusion

A lack of storage space is one of the main difficulties homeowners face when downsizing. Thus, it’s essential to figure out how to best organize and apply creative storage ideas for small apartments. Some of these tips require more investment than others. However, the comfort and commodity they’ll provide have no price. And even though custom-made built-in elements are a lifesaver, you can solve many issues by simply rearranging your home.

How to Pack and Move a Home Office

August 25, 2021September 24, 2022 admin Leave a comment

It’s not uncommon for people to leave the home office as one of the final places to pack. This chamber is feared by some even more than the garage. However, it isn’t all that tough. The trick is to get started early and fill a box here and there so that it does not feel like a massive undertaking, as it will if you get pressed for time. So, let’s get on with how to pack and move a home office!

Check and sort everything

When’s the last time you looked through the stack of papers on your desk? Depending on how much you use your office and the number of people who live in your house, this space may become a dumpsite for everything that doesn’t belong anywhere else. There may be anything stored there, from the kids’ lovingly created artwork to coupon boxes and gathered recipes. You’ll probably discover that a lot of the items in this area need to be discarded. Yes, you will have to deal with stress here, but it will help you out in the long term!

Sort important documents

All of your critical documents should be packed in your “carry-on” luggage so that they stay with you. Birth certificates, passports, automobile titles, financial paperwork, insurance information, and school, medical, and vet records are all examples of essential documents. Not that you want to anticipate your moving truck getting involved in an accident, but these are items you would be lost without if something were to happen to them. To keep them all together, put them in a large manila envelope or folder.

Packing tips

Everything that has a proper place outside of the office should go back to its location. It should make things a bit easier to manage. For example, a collection of hidden toys can go anywhere the rest of this pile is, and that unexpected jar of acrylic paint can go among the arts and crafts materials. But, if this stresses you out or you don’t want to do it, you can hire professional packers!

When packing books, stay away from big boxes that might become excessively heavy. Plastic milk containers, copy paper, and liquor boxes are all excellent options. They’re sturdy and the perfect size. Place a trash bag inside the box and place the goods inside the bag if you have objects that even a tiny amount of water might harm. Nothing inside will suffer any damage if this is the one odd package accidentally dumped in a puddle during that brief heavy downpour. Also, remember that moving trucks may get extremely hot in the summer and excessively cold in the winter, so it would be best to transport old pictures, CDs, and other delicate objects in your vehicle.

Get the right packing supplies

Due to all of the critical and expensive things found in a home office, it may not be easy to pack this room. You’ll need to prepare the proper packing materials well in advance to ensure the required protection for your sensitive papers, office equipment, and office furniture.

Sort your electronics

When you want to pack and move a home office, good organization is critical. Grab a pack of colorful stickers before you start disconnecting wires and taking out cables. Use equivalent stickers to label the port and cord, so you know how to reconnect everything. You can apply this technique to your entire entertainment center. Also, make sure you remove your printer and copier’s ink cartridges.

Then, cushion the bottom of the box with a soft sweatshirt or sweater. Place your computer, printer, and other electronics inside, along with the necessary connections and wires, in a Ziploc bag or tied together with twist ties. To protect the contents from moving about, stuff the box with shirts, socks, towels, or similar objects. Finally, write “fragile” on the exterior but never say what is really within the box.

Furniture

Before you hurry to pack your office furniture for a relocation, consider whether it is necessary for your particular situation. Most furniture items are pretty heavy, and transporting them to a new home may be quite costly. That is especially true if the new property is far away from your current residence. It’s sometimes more cost-effective to leave the old furniture behind (or sell it) and buy new furniture when you finish your move. Do you truly adore your office furniture to the point where you’d pay top dollar to relocate it across the country? Unless you have personal value in your items or an expensive antique piece made of solid wood, most furniture, particularly IKEA furniture, is not worth transporting. The workload of moving it is vast, and you should probably avoid the DIY move.

Books

There’s a high possibility your home office has many books that you’d like to relocate to your new home office. Before moving them, you need to make sure you have correctly packed them for the journey ahead. Examine your book collection to determine if there are any titles that you don’t need to pack and relocate. Some books become obsolete over time. It’s always a good idea to look through your collection and get rid of those you won’t use again.

Do this with all of your books, not just the ones at your home office. Be reasonable; you don’t want to waste money transporting goods you no longer desire.

Back up your data

Anything can happen during a move. That’s why you have to make sure to back up all of your critical electronic work data if your computer is damaged during transit. Back up all necessary computer files to a portable flash drive or an external hard drive for peace of mind. Consider utilizing an online backup service to copy your most important electronic data to make things extra secure.

Hiring movers

Your best friend will be your moving company when you want to pack and move a home office. That’s why it’s crucial to find a reputable moving company. They will help you avoid all the potential moving disasters and make sure that you have a smooth relocation. If you don’t have enough time to pack, movers usually provide that service. That way, you won’t need to do last-minute packing and get stressed for no reason.

Before hiring anyone, make sure to do proper research on your movers. That way, you will reduce the chances of being scammed and have more peace of mind! Read the reviews and compare the prices of multiple options to make sure you get the best deal.

This concludes our rather comprehensive list of tips on how to pack and move a home office. Daunting as it may seem, you will get to it quickly and effortlessly if you follow our advice. Happy moving!

luxury property investment for buy-to-let

Landlords: 3 Top Tips for Buy-to-Let Property Investors

August 15, 2021March 24, 2022 admin Leave a comment

Recently, the buy-to-let business has come under the cosh from a crackdown on tax, but many still consider property investment as an attractive business at a time of volatile stock markets and low-interest rates. Changes in tax ultimately meant extra stamp duty on purchasing a buy-to-let and the end of the ability to offset all buy-to-let mortgage interest alongside income tax. However, the buy-to-let business can still pay off if you follow our top tips for property investors.

If you do wish to invest in such properties or wish to improve returns on the property you as a landlord already own, it is important that you do things right and always consider the best money-saving tips so you don’t overspend. Whether you are an experienced landlord, or new in this market, here are our top tips for investing in a property and being a good landlord in London.

1. Properly Research the Buy-to-Let Market

If you are new in this business, you may want to ask yourself what you really know about the market. Are you aware of all the risks and the benefits? Do you know some good estate agents who could guide you further? Be sure that this is an investment you really wish to make, or whether your money will perform much better elsewhere.

Note that in recent years, a high rate savings account can beat most investments. Rates are lower now but investing in a buy-to-let also means tying up capital in a property that could fall in its value in the future. These days, investing in such properties involves committing thousands of pounds and typically thinking about taking out a high value mortgage or even bridging finance. When the price of a house rises, this means it is possible to make bigger gains above your mortgage debt. However, when they fall, your deposits get hit and the mortgage ends up staying the same.

Both in terms of capital gains and income, property investing pays off handsomely for many people, but it is important that you take the leap with your eyes wide open. You need to learn and acknowledge the potential advantages and the disadvantages. For this, it is advisable that you consult estate agents who have experience with buy-to-let properties. Rest assured that the more knowledge you have through research, the better the chances of your investments being worthwhile.

2. Choose a Suitable Investment Area

Buying a property to rent out in the future does not mean you should restrict your options to the cheapest or most expensive. Choosing a suitable area means a place where people would love to live for a variety of reasons. Which area or neighbourhood offers a special appeal? Does the area offer good transportation services? Consider areas where there are good schools located for young families and students who wish to live there.

Alongside these, you also need to match the kind of property you can afford and whether the people who want to live in that area would prefer to choose your property. Such questions may sound too simplistic, but probably, they are the most important aspect of a successful investment.

Usually, people prefer to invest in a property that is close to where they live. On the bright side, this means they will know the market a lot better than other areas. It also enables them to keep better tabs on the property. It is also worth bearing in mind that if you own a house and exposed to the market in your area, then looking for a different one in the same area is a smart move.

luxury interior

3. Negotiate for the Best Purchase Price

Just like first-time buyers, as a buy-to-let investor, you also have the same advantage when it comes to negotiating for a discount. If you are not the sort who relies on selling a property to buy another one, then you are not a part of the chain and stand at a less risk of the sale falling through. When negotiating for a discount, this can be a major asset. Try to make low offers and do not fall into overpaying.

Before you get involved in the pricing or payment part, it is important that you know the market well before negotiating. For example, if the market is softer and homes take longer to sell, then you are at a better chance to negotiate for the best deal. It is also a wise decision to first find out why someone is willing to sell their property and how long they have owned it.

At most times, an existing landlord who has owned the property for a very long time, cashing in their asset, would be more willing to accept a lower offer in the effort to make a quick sale compared to a family who needs the best price to afford a move.

If you are considering getting involved in the buy-to-let business, following these tips can help you to stay ahead and make the best deals. A proper understanding of the property market in your area can help you to find the best homes, and tenants who would appreciate your home.

Buying a Home: A Step by Step Guide

August 2, 2021August 25, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Purchasing a new home can be an incredibly stressful event. After all, it places third behind bereavement and divorce as the most stressful events we face in our lives. It’s not hard to see why either, especially when you take the amount there is to do into consideration. This guide takes you through the six stages of buying a home, detailing everything you need to do throughout the process. Hopefully, you will be able to use this guide as a checklist for buying a home, as well as helping to prepare you for the process.

Do You Need to Move?

Considering how stressful the entire buying and moving process is, you should carefully consider moving home. Some of the most common reasons people move are as follows:

Need more space
Dislike their neighbours
Dislike the area
Want a change of scenery
Want to get out of rented accommodation

If you are moving because you need more space, you should first decide if any of the other criteria on the list apply to you. If not, then consider extending your home instead or simply add more storage space. This tends to be a cheaper and less stressful process, even if it does tend to take longer. Sometimes an extension is all you need to improve your home, giving you more space without all the hassle associated with buying a new home.

The Steps to Buying Your New Home

If you are adamant about buying a new home, however, then there are six main stages that you need to complete – none of which are necessarily quick or easy. Here are each of them, in detail, for you to go through.

Step One: Find a Property You Can Afford

The first thing you need to do is assess your budget and determine what you are able to afford in terms of purchasing the house and the cost of the mortgage/bills every month. Make sure you take changes in your financial situation into account, and how you will be able to cope with these payments if something goes wrong. After all, your savings will not just cover the mortgage fees, but also things like stamp duty.

The first thing to do is check your credit score. Lenders are going to be looking at this, so you need to make sure it is up to scratch, and see if there is anything you can do to improve it. You can also check it for any errors and apply to have these rectified. A bad credit score is very likely to be rejected, so make sure you know what you are dealing with before you progress.

You also need to choose a mortgage that is right for you. Many people choose to go with their bank, but you can often find better deals when talking to the estate agent. This is because they usually have a mortgage broker that they will recommend to you.

Once you have found an offer you like, you can agree to a mortgage in principle. This is what tells you how much a lender is likely to offer, and the interest you will pay. You may have to pay a fee to reserve the mortgage product you want, which can cost up to £250.

Provided you have passed all of the relevant checks, you are now free to progress to the second stage of the buying process.

Step Two: Make an Offer

So, you have found the home of your dreams. It is within your budget, and the mortgage has essentially been agreed. Now you are ready to make an offer. Usually, you will do this through an estate agent, and often it is acceptable to start your offer price at around 10% below the asking price.

People often get confused about estate agent fees at this point in the process. When you are buying a home, you don’t need to pay estate agent fees on top of your purchase price. You only pay fees for the home that you are selling. These fees are only usually between 0.5% and 3% plus VAT, so it’s not a massive amount.

Step Three: Find a Solicitor and Surveyor

Your solicitor is the person who handles all of the legal paperwork and filings. Some people choose to hire both a solicitor and conveyancer, but you will save money hiring someone who is able to do both.

You solicitor will always tell you how much you will be expected to pay before they start work, and you should expect to pay an upfront fee before they get started. Usually, this will be a 10% deposit that will be taken off the full amount after completion. Expect to pay up to £1,500 for their services, as well as 20% VAT.

Your solicitor will also submit searches to the local council in the property’s location. This check is to see if there are any local or planning issues that might affect the overall value of the property. You can expect this to cost up to £300.

The surveyor, on the other hand, surveys the property. This means they check the home thoroughly for any problems that could affect its overall cost. There tend to be two surveys – the valuation and property surveys.

The valuation survey is carried out by the lender. This is to ensure the property is worth the amount you are planning to pay before your mortgage is approved. However, this is not an extensive survey as it will not look for and try to uncover any damage or issues with the property. You can still expect to pay up to £1,500 for the service, however, depending on the value of the property. You may also get it for free, depending on the mortgage deal you selected.

The property survey is one that is commissioned by you. Many people neglect to do this, but the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have found that, on average, buyers who don’t get the right survey find themselves faced with £5,750 worth of damages and repairs after moving in.

As it is going to be your property, it is worth paying a decent price to have a good and professional surveying job completed. Plus, it can really help you in terms of price negotiation. For example, if it is found that the property will need £5,000 worth of repairs, you can ask the current owners to lower the price by that much to make up for it.

Here are the three main types of survey that are available:

RICS condition report: This is a basic survey, as well as the cheapest one available. If you are buying a home that is in good condition, or one that has been newly built, then this is probably the best option to go for. No advice or valuation will be provided with this type of survey, and you can expect to pay around £250.

RICS homebuyer report: This is a much more detailed survey than the one above, and it is most suited to homes in reasonable condition. They look at the inside and outside of the property thoroughly so that they can note any damages or issues, before providing advice and a valuation. You can expect to pay a minimum of £400 for this service.

Building or structural survey: Of the three types, this is the most extensive. It is suitable for all properties, but is especially handy of you are buying an older building, or ones that look as though they might need some extra care and attention. Advice and a valuation will be provided at the end, and you can expect to pay a minimum of £600 for this type of survey.

Once this stage is complete and you have planned the type of survey that you will require for your home, you can move onto the next step of the buying process.

Step Four: Finalise the Offer and Mortgage

Once the survey stage has been completed, you might want to consider renegotiating the offer that you made on your new home. There are two main reasons why you might want to go through with this:

The lender may have valued the property at a lower price, thus leaving you with a shortfall. This means that you won’t be able to match the asking price or what you were originally intending to offer.
Your survey may have uncovered issues with the property that will be expensive to fix. With this new information, you can try and renegotiate the price based on the estimated cost of repairs.

Once you have reached this stage, you may start feeling the pressure. This is because it is at this stage that things often become incredibly stressful. At this point, delays and issues could arise for a multitude of reasons, including these ones:

The seller decides to withdraw the property from the market (which they are entitled to at this stage)
The seller decides to accept a higher offer from another buyer. This is also known as gazumping
Your mortgage application could also be rejected at this stage

If things start to go wrong, make sure you communicate regularly with your solicitor and estate agent. Even though things may seem to be going badly, you would be surprised by how often things turn around when the lines of communication are kept open. Don’t give up after a bad turn because things could still go right for you.

However, if everything has gone to plan, you can contact your lender or mortgage adviser to move on with the mortgage finalisation. Usually, there is a fee for this service of up to £2,000. You can have this added onto the mortgage, but remember that if you do you will be paying the interest on it for the lifetime of the mortgage.

Once you have received your binding mortgage offer, the lender must give you seven days to think about it. This gives you time to compare it with other mortgage deals to make sure you are getting the right one for you. However, if you are positive that the mortgage being offered to you is the perfect one, you can give the go-ahead any time before the seven days are up.

It is important to remember that before you and the seller exchange contracts, you can back out of the purchase at any time. It is better that you pull out if you feel that you will not be able to afford the property in terms of repair costs or over the long run, so don’t feel ashamed about doing it. You may, however, lose some money, depending on how far through the process you are.

Once you have decided that this is the right choice for you, and your mortgage has been finalised, you can go ahead and start the next stage of the buying process.

Step Five: Exchange Contracts

If there are no problems or delays, you should now receive the contract to complete your sale. Signing this legally binds you to the purchase. Before you sign it, however, make sure you go through it carefully with your solicitor so that you understand each part.

You need to make sure you agree with what the sellers are leaving behind, and also ensure that all of your questions have been answered suitably. If you have any issues, make sure your solicitor has them ironed out immediately to help things continue running as smoothly as possible.

Once signed by both parties, you and the seller are committed to this stage of the buying process. The seller may ask you for a holding deposit at this stage of the process, usually only up to £1,000, to ensure that you are showing serious intent to follow through with this process.

Once the contracts have been exchanged, moving dates can be discussed and negotiated so that both parties have adequate notice. You will also need to purchase building insurance at this point to cover the structure of the property. Get your insurance sorted at the very beginning to avoid any shocks and disappointments.

Once this stage has been completed, you can move onto the final (and most exciting) one.

Step Six: Completion

Completion is the most exciting, and most expensive, stage that will be carried out. It is when you pay off all of the money you owe, and you get to move into your new home. There are several things that need to be done in the final steps that lead up to full completion, and this stage lists them all.

The remaining money that is owed on the property will be paid. It will be transferred from your solicitor’s account to the seller’s solicitor. As some of the money will come from the mortgage provider, you can expect to pay a telegraphic transfer fee. Usually, this will cost up to £50.

You may also have to pay a mortgage account fee. The lender charges this fee for setting up, maintaining, and closing down your mortgage account. It is often added to the mortgage itself, which means that you will end up paying interest on it. As a result, it is often a good idea to pay for it up front. This usually costs up to £300.

During this stage, you will also need to pay the remainder of the bill for your solicitor. As a reminder, this typically costs a total (including the deposit) of up to £1,500 plus 20% VAT. Make sure you get this paid off early on as it is an important bill to settle.

At this point in the process, you solicitor will also register the sale with Land Registry for you. This covers properties in England and Wales. For properties in Northern Ireland, it will need to be registered with Land and Property Services. For properties in Scotland, it needs to be registered with Registers of Scotland. The cost of this process largely depends on the price of the property being purchased.

You will also need to pay your estate agent once the completion stage has been reached if you are also selling your home. If you are only buying, then you don’t need to worry about this point. This fee will have been agreed from the outset. Typically, it is a percentage of the purchase price, plus 20% VAT. Generally speaking, the percentage will be no more than 3%, and some agents will offer a percentage as low as 0.5%.

Stamp duty is also something that buyers need to take into consideration. Homes that cost more than £125,000 will require you to pay stamp duty. You will have 30 days after the completion date to pay the fee that is incurred by this tax. Your solicitor will arrange this for you most of the time, taking a good part of the stress away.

There are a number of stamp duty calculators online if you want to know roughly how much you will be expected to pay. If you are purchasing a second home, or one that you plan to rent out, you will need to pay an extra 3% on top of the regular stamp duty band. Make sure you take this into consideration when you are planning how much you are likely to spend.

If you are using a moving company to help you get all of your belongings to your new home, a top tip is that it is cheaper to move on a weekday than it is a weekend. The price will vary depending on how far away you are moving, but you can expect to pay a minimum of £300 and anywhere over £600. Make sure you get a lot of quotes and compare them before you decide on a company to use.

Now that you have paid all outstanding funds and moved in, you can finally relax in your new home. It’s not easy, and it can be very stressful at the time, but at least you have been able to find yourself a wonderful new place to live. Next up is a bottle of champagne while you plan your housewarming party and get those boxes unpacked.

To Conclude

Hopefully, our guide to buying a new home has been useful to you and given you a lot of information about what the process entails. It is not always an easy task to undertake, but it once you find yourself in your new home, you can breathe a sigh of joy and relief. Just remember to keep yourself incredibly organised, and to try and stay calm during the process.

If you have any questions or comments, we would love to hear them. Feel free to drop us a message in the comment section below to let us know what you thought of our step by step guide.

Selling Your Home: A Step by Step Guide

August 1, 2021August 25, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Selling your home and moving house is not an easy task to undertake. In fact, it is listed as one of the most stressful experiences you will have in life – below divorce and bereavement. There’s good reason for that as well; it can be a real strain both financially and emotionally. However, it doesn’t have to be a complete mess; you can make the process a little easier for you to handle. Our step by step guide to selling your home breaks the process down into 15 simple steps that you need to take when you go to sell. Plus, we have a handy checklist so that you will have everything you need to get started. Take a look, and start planning your big move.

Your Moving House Checklist

Make sure you have a list of the tasks you need to do on hand. Check off completed ones
Keep an eye on maintenance issues and get anything that is damaged fixed
Gather business cards from multiple agents
Gather business cards from multiple solicitors
Get rid of your clutter before you go to sell
Get an inspection/survey before you sell your house, so you know about any issues
Always be prepared and start organising the move as soon as you decide you want to sell

15 Steps to Selling Your Home

#1 Deciding If You Should Sell

The first thing you need to determine is whether or not you should sell your home. This might seem bizarre, but it is actually an incredibly important stage in the process. After all, there are several vital factors that you should be taking into consideration.

The first of these is why you are thinking of selling your home. Are you looking for more space? If so, have you considered making alterations to your current home? Things, like building an extension, converting your unused loft space, or even digging out the basement can lead to a more spacious home. It is often cheaper as well, and often less stressful.

You should also consider the changing house prices. Prices that are rising rapidly may affect your budget in a negative way and leave your house on the market longer than you expected. Similarly, declining house prices may leave you with a less than ideal price.

Are you in negative equity? If the answer to this is yes, then you need to determine if you can afford to sell your home. You should also consider if you are better off renting the home out as opposed to selling it, something which could prove profitable in the future.

#2 Looking at Finances

Next, you need to figure out your financial situation. This is also a key aspect of preparing to sell your home. The first thing to do is let your mortgage lender know that you are making plans to sell your home. This helps them to prepare for the legal paperwork that will be required to do so.

While you are notifying the mortgage company about this, you also need to find out how much your outstanding mortgage is and if there are any early redemption penalties. After this, you need a rough idea of how much your house is worth so that you can calculate how much you will be left with after paying the mortgage.

If you are purchasing a new home, you also need to determine how big a mortgage you need in order to do that. Make sure you get a few estimates from mortgage lenders before you go to sell. Similarly, it is important to remember that in the early stages all the pricing will be approximate, so don’t hold any of them as solid figures.

You will only get a precise cost for your mortgage when you have agreed on a completion date and exchanged contracts. Make sure you plan the financial aspect carefully to avoid any unnecessary stress and disappointment.

#3 Deciding If You Should Rent While You Wait

This is something that people rarely think to consider. Yes, renting can add to the overall cost of selling your home and moving house. However, it can reduce the pressure to find a new home and move out. You won’t be rushed into buying a new home that is not ideal, and you also won’t have to sell your house at a low price because you have found the home of your dreams. And if you’re worried about where you will store all your belongings if the rented place is furnished then there’s a simple solution to that. Just rent a cheap self storage unit nearby.

One of the great benefits is the fact that you will be able to break out of the housing chain, which is much more attractive to buyers. This means that you are the only two people relying on the sale, there is no chain of buyers and sellers that are waiting for everyone else to accept offers and complete. You see, with a chain if something goes wrong for one link, the whole sequence of purchases and sales collapses.

#4 Finding an Agent

This can be a tricky step, especially when it comes to choosing who to go with. You have three options for this stage. You can find a local agent, an online agent, or you can sell the home yourself.

If you choose to go with a local agent, you will need to do some research. Go and visit as many as you can, talk to family and friends about their recommendations, and surf the web for reviews and customer experiences.

You can even use an estate agent comparison website to find the best one for you. You can also use multiple agents to sell your home if you choose to do so. This can give your home wider coverage on the market and attract a larger number of potential buyers, although it will cost you more in estate agent fees.

You will also need to agree on a fee with the estate agent for selling your home. Generally, you should try to aim for 1% plus VAT with a sole agent. Of course, you can also go with online agents (they also take fees). They are becoming increasingly popular, so it’s worth taking a look at what services they are offering alongside their lower fees.

With regards to selling your home yourself, it is something that is definitely possible. However, it requires a lot of hard work, planning, and organisation. Not to mention experience. It’s not a task for the fainthearted, and it will certainly add to your stress if you are inexperienced.

#5 Setting Your Price

Now you have to set the price for your home. This part can be tricky, but it’s important. Make sure you get several estate agents to come and value the home, that way you will have a good price range to work with. You should also take the time to research the market, so you have a rough idea of what other homes in your area are selling for.

Don’t always go for the highest valuation that you are offered. Remember to take your market research into consideration. You should also note that the majority of buyers will be looking for a 5-10% discount on the price, so bear this in mind when you are coming up with a price you are happy with.

#6 Finding a Solicitor

Now you need to have a solicitor and/or conveyancer lined up and ready to get started. These are the people that will handle the legal work for you so that the ownership of property can be transferred. Talk to family and friends about their recommendations, but also make sure you look online to find good local firms.

Make sure you decide which firm you want to use before you accept an offer on your house. Of course, you cannot instruct them until a sale has been agreed, but it is good to have them ready. Next, you should ask for an estimate when it comes to costs. Typically, you can expect to pay between £500 and £1500 for their services.

Your estate agent will likely recommend a firm to you, and you should definitely get a quote from them. However, make sure you compare this quote to other firms as there is usually a pretty hefty referral fee attached to the one you were recommended. It’s something to watch out for.

#7 Preparing Your Home

Staging your home for viewings is essential. It should look like a show home, with things like children’s toys and pet beds tucked away and out of sight. This makes your home more attractive to a buyer, and it can both help to sell your home faster as well as make it more valuable. People like to see a home as they imagine it – perfect and ready to move into.

Make sure you give it a few touch ups here and there. A splash of paint, doing all those little DIY jobs and removing any potentially off-putting odours. One of the top tips that people give is that you should bake the morning of the viewings. That way your house has a fresh and homey scent to it that will attract the viewers and help them associate your home with positive things. Fresh coffe brewing and fresh flowers always help too.

#8 Filling Out the Paperwork for the Buyers

You will have a good chunk of paperwork to fill out for the buyer. You will also need to make sure you have things like past planning permission forms and the environmental impact check form ready for them to view as well. The paperwork will also let the buyer know everything about the property, as well as further information with regards to the actual sale.

#9 Accepting an Offer

Once you reach this stage, you have been given an offer. Something useful to note is that the estate agent is legally required to pass all offers on to you, no matter how ridiculous they may sound. If you are not happy with the offer you have three options:

Decline it there and then
Wait for a better one to come along
Instruct the estate agent to negotiate a higher price

Once you are happy with an offer, you must formally accept it. You can then instruct the estate agents to take the property off the market and list it as sold. It is important to note that an offer is not legally binding once you have accepted it. You can back out or accept a higher offer if it comes along. Just remember that this can be distressing for the buyer.

#10 Negotiating the Draft Contract

The next stage is worked out between you and the buyer. You have several things that you will need to organise and discuss so that it works out well for you both. Here they are:

The length of time between exchange and completion (usually 7-28 days)
What fixtures and fittings will be included and how much extra they may cost if not included
Any discounts due to issues raised by the survey

The middle point is a good one to remember. Buyers may want to purchase some of the furniture in your home, and you are allowed to sell it to them during the process. There is a separate section in your contract where you list what is staying and what can be left behind/sold. For example, you could sell them the fridge/freezer for an additional fee instead of taking it with you, especially if they are integrated into the kitchen units.

#11 Exchanging Contracts

At this point, everything becomes legally binding. You are legally committed to selling them the property, and they are legally committed to buying it from you. It is still possible to pull out at this stage. If you do, then the buyer’s deposit will be returned to them. Bear in mind that you may be sued for the inconvenience you caused them and also breaking a legal contract.

#12 Moving Out

You are free to move out whenever you want, even on the day of completion. Of course, it may be wiser to move out before that so that you have less stress and can relax a little more, particularly if it is a large house with lots of possessions or if you are moving a long distance to your new home. Remember that at the time of completion the house must be in the condition agreed to in the contract, which includes all the fixtures and fittings.

The buyer and estate agent may come to visit you between the time of your moving and the completion to make sure that everything is in order and going smoothly. Usually, they will let you know they are doing this but not always, so remain vigilant and keep on top of things.

#13 Completion

This stage is when the property is officially handed over to the buyer and changes ownership. At this point, you will accept the payment and hand over the keys to the property. It will take place on a date that was previously agreed and usually around midday. Most agents tend to have the same rules for the completion of a sale.

On the day of completion, the money is transferred, and any deeds for the property are also transferred between the solicitors and conveyancers on each side. They will then proceed to register the transfer of ownership with the Land Registry, making everything official.

At this point you can take your first sigh of relief as the hardest part is over. You’ve moved, completed, and now you only have two steps left.

#14 Paying Off the Mortgage

The mortgage company will have given your solicitor/conveyancer a precise outstanding amount for your mortgage, ready for the day of completion. They will pay the money off for you now that the buyer has transferred the funds. Your legal team take a good chunk of the stress away, so you don’t have to worry about it. It also allows you to start settling into your new home without too much weight on your shoulders.

#15 Paying Your Solicitor

Once the completion has taken place, you will receive an account from your solicitor/conveyancer. This will detail their costs and disbursements, alongside the sale price of the house and redemption of the mortgage. If you are buying and selling at the same time, then they are able to settle both transactions at the same time, including paying the stamp duty on the house that you are purchasing.

This is great to kill two birds with one stone effectively. As a side note, it could be useful to know that there are sometimes discrepancies that will entitle you to a small refund. However, these are not particularly common.

#16 The Bonus Step

The most important thing to do is try to relax and enjoy the process. Sometimes the easy way may be more expensive, but it will be better for you physically and mentally – especially as you still have to physically move. Make sure you stay organised and look forward to your new home. Make sure you keep yourself feeling positive and excited for the next adventure.

To Conclude

Hopefully, this guide has been able to provide you with a little more insight into the world of buying and selling homes. Moving is not an easy task, and the selling process can be a long one. However, it is important to remain positive and proactive throughout the process. With hard work, a good mindset, and professionals around you to help, you’ll be in your new home in no time at all. Make sure you follow each of the steps above carefully so that you can experience and easier and more relaxed process.

What did you think of our step by step guide? We love hearing from you so let us know in the comments below.

Most Popular Kerb Appeal Ideas to Attract Potential Buyers

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Visual appeal is one of the most important factors that influence our first impression. That means that beautifully designed things will trigger emotions and memories in our brain that, on the subconscious level, will favour some things over others. It’s no different when we are looking for a new home. We will look for something to check all the boxes when it comes to functionality and personal preferences. Still, the outside of the house is the first thing that will draw our attention. Whether you are exploring the most popular kerb appeal ideas to attract potential buyers or plan to refresh the exterior design and reinvent the look of your yard, here are the best ways to do it.

Refresh the house exterior

Every home needs occasional renovation and remodelling if we want to keep it in top condition. Doing it through small projects won’t feel like a financial burden since giving little by little is more manageable than cashing it all at once. Hence, dedicating some investment to bring out your home’s best features before putting it on the market is always a smart move. Suppose you have the means and will; let us start with painting the exterior walls. The wall freshness and colour are something that everyone notices first, so refreshing or changing the paint will do much good. Choosing the colour is up to you, but avoid using too bright or too dark paint. Going with neutral and earthy pastel colours is the most appealing look in general.

Still, if you love to play with colour, you can be brave when choosing one for your doors and windows. Doors are a very noticeable feature of every house, so paying extra attention to its design and colour is essential. Its features will say a lot about the owner, their tastes, and the welcoming feeling the house is trying to vibe. The same thing refers to front gates. Adding a fresh coat of paint will do wonders!

Keeping the patios top-notch

Re-vamping porches, patios, terraces, balconies, and any other leisure spaces your home has is the perfect way to add value to your house. There are so many popular kerb appeal ideas for these areas that could make your place beyond recognition. It would help if you started with thoroughly cleaning them, from top to bottom. Also, see if those floors need some refreshing or polishing. When it comes to wood surfaces, a coat of paint and a protective layer are a good idea. Naturally, if you have some tiles or stone floors, all you need is to clean them meticulously. Grouts, tiles, and uneven surfaces might require different treatment, but nothing gives a better impression than spotless floors. After you’re done, apply the same procedures on staircases and stairs.

Furnishing the leisure area

After all the cleaning and refreshing is done comes the best part – decorating the patios, porches, and terraces. Such choices will depend on your preferable design, but going with comfortable and durable furniture pieces is always a win. The details you choose should be inviting and welcoming, so add a few elements that will draw attention to them. Make sure to have some lovely cushions for your outdoor furniture, especially when staging your home for sale. When you’ve decided on the centrepiece of these areas, add some more details like outdoor lanterns, flower pots, or maybe even string lights. Patio furniture is an excellent investment if you know how to take care of it, so make sure to learn how to safely store it and put it away in winter to protect it from harsh weather.

Fix and wash the driveway

Driveways are usually not among the most popular kerb appeal ideas when sprucing up our place for sale. Still, the importance of it is beyond questioning. Imagine driving to an open house and noticing cracks or a dirty driveway along the way. That is the first thing we see on the property, and it’s never good to form a wrong impression of a house before you even have a chance to check it out. Therefore, it’s of utmost importance to fix and pressure-wash the driveway when trying to attract potential buyers. It’s always good to inspect the driveway now and then. If it has cracks in it, repaving might be a good idea.

Landscaping will do magic

Landscaping is the most efficient way to draw attention to the property. No matter how well the home exterior looks, people will have doubts if the front yard is poorly maintained. And even though landscaping doesn’t require much investment if you’re planning to do it as a DIY project, no one wants to pay a significant amount of money for a new home and then invest some more if they don’t have to.

Your landscaping project can be big or small, depending on how far you are willing to go. Either way, begin with checking the condition of the grass. Usually, simple mowing will do the trick if you already maintain the surface regularly. Pay attention to cut all the bushes and overgrown grass patches, especially close to the house. While you’re doing it, see if any plants or trees need trimming and add some more mulch around them. A fresh layer of mulch or landscape rocks will refresh the terrain and add contrast to the property.

From here, the only thing left is to plant some fresh flowers if you’re putting your home on the market during spring or summer. Investing in a garden project is one of the most popular kerb appeal ideas since it’s the most effective way to refresh the front yard.

Pay attention to details

Doing all the work won’t do you much if you don’t pay attention to every part of your household equally. From big surfaces and most popular kerb appeal ideas to neglected small things, like mail-boxes and house numbers, everything matters! Every little detail is essential when looking at the big picture. Remember that your potential buyers are looking for their dream home, and nothing less than dreamy will do.

Reasons to avoid a DIY move

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Moving will be, without a doubt, one of the most difficult transitional periods in your life. And, because of that fact, you will need all the help you get. Still, many people undervalue the importance of professional movers and decide to opt for a DIY kind of a move. Some do it because they think it will save them a lot of money, some do it because they feel too proud, etc. But, little do they know that even the smallest and the most innocent mistake due to either inexperience or lack of knowledge can sometimes cost them a lot more. We are not talking only about the money – unprofessionalism in moving can cost one time, energy, nerves, and most importantly, health. However, if you are still not persuaded, then keep on reading. Here are some legitimate reasons to avoid a DIY move.

DIY Move Does Not Always Cost Less

As previously mentioned, the number one reason why most people opt for a DIY kind of a move is money. However, moving by yourself can only be cheaper if you are moving somewhere around the corner and if you have scarcely any belongings.

The problems start to occur when the hidden costs of moving emerge. These costs are usually packing supplies, moving equipment, moving trucks, road tolls and taxes, fuel surcharges, shipping, insurance, cleaning, etc., to mention just a few. Moreover, having a DIY kind of a move can cause a lot of damages both to your properties (the current and the new one) and to your own body – all of which will end up costing a lot more money than simply hiring movers. Hopefully, this answers your question of how easy it is to do your own house removal – not easy nor cheap at all.

It Will Consume All of Your Time and Energy

If you think that packing your home and moving all of your belongings is something that can be done over the weekend, you are wrong! Still, many people think they can pull it off. Those are the same people who hire movers the next time they decide to move.

When you move by yourself, that is, when you have a DIY kind of a move, be prepared to spend weeks for it. Maybe even months! It is essential to know, right at the beginning, that moving is a process that requires a lot of planning and preparation. And, if this is your first time moving, those plans and preparations will demand all of your time. If you have weeks and months to spare, great! But, if you have to move in a hurry for business reasons, or if you are moving with small children, for example, you will need to get everything done in the fastest possible manner. And, the only way to do that is, as previously said, with professional movers, not by yourself.

Avoid a DIY Move As It Can Break Friendships

Even when moving by yourself, you will need help doing some tasks. For example, you will need help getting that sofa down the stairs and into the moving truck, you will need help disassembling that bulky closet, or you will just need somebody to watch your children and pets on the moving day.

Most of your friends will be able to give you a hand when preparing and packing for the move. However, you should keep in mind that friends mean well but they are not skilled! You can make all the same mistakes with their help too. Those same mistakes will end up costing a lot more time, money, and energy all over again.

Another thing that can happen with DIY relocations is relying on your friends for too much. You may need their help not for one day but for an entire week. Packing, heavy lifting, and doing all sorts of physical work is not on anybody’s wish list. Thus, do not take your friends for granted and assume they have all the time in the world to help you with your moving as you may lose those friends.

And, It Can Also Break Bones

Besides breaking friendships, DIY relocations can also break bones! Believe it or not, but moving injuries are as common as any other. A lot of things can go wrong – you may strain your back, break your fingers and toes, injure your knees and neck, sprain your ankles, or you may cut and scrape just any part of your body. Moreover, you may injure not only yourself but also any other household member around you. As you can see, these moving injuries are nothing to joke about – some of them can even put you in hospital.

Moving injuries happen because of our inexperience and lack of knowledge, and of course, because of our clumsiness. Many people do not know how to heavy-lift, nor how to use the machines they have rented for this occasion. For these people, a DIY kind of a move is just a disaster waiting to happen. Moving house like a professional requires a lot of research upfront – give yourself time to learn all the lifting techniques, carrying methods, stretching exercises, etc. Also, head out and buy protective gear! If this seems just too much, you know what to do – hire movers.

Specialty Items Require Special Care

None of us are born with expert packing skills; these skills are learned, but only if you have enough time and energy for that. If you do not, you will have to let movers handle your precious belongings if you want them to arrive at your new address in one piece.

This is especially important for specialty items. Those are items that are bulky, heavy, difficult to pack, and also those that are extremely valuable and expensive, such as musical instruments, art pieces, antique furniture, and for others, those are pools, hot tubs, and aquariums. Relocating these is hard even for professionals, let alone for inexperienced people. Just one wrong move can cost your precious item! So, if you value your belongings, avoid a DIY move and let experts handle them.

Essential Steps to Buying a House for a Family

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 admin Leave a comment

We all have our priorities when buying a house. And when it comes to buying a house for a family, these needs become diversified. As a result of this, the buying process gets complex and takes time, and it’s easy to get off track. This guide will help you get through the process without forgetting some of the important features to you and your family.

1. Location, Location & Location

With a family, you want a location that is amidst good social infrastructure. It means that you get easy access to the places they frequent the most. This includes work, school, shopping, recreation, place of worship, friends and family. Ideally, something that has low traffic yet gives you access to the main roads.

2. Square Foot: Number of Bedrooms/ Bathrooms

Don’t ignore the size of the lot the house sits on. After all, that will play a critical role if you are buying a house — and want a treehouse or a pool in the backyard. Alongside, the total number of bedrooms & bathrooms matter. You want to have a futuristic vision. Do you have two kids who are sharing a room? Are you thinking of adding a granny flat later? Make sure you consider the size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms before buying the home.

3. Kitchen Layout

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and usually, everyone ends up hanging out here. Since it is the centre of activity and entertainment, the size and layout are important. Think about if you want a large gourmet kitchen with lots of counter space, sinks and storage or do you want a closed layout with a separate dining area? What kind of appliances do you like to keep — and does your kitchen size permit the same?

4. Age of the House

Remember that one thing that often adds to the maintenance cost of the house is its age. It will also mean that you might have to bring in new appliances, have more repairs and maintenance issues. Some older homes can have a character that appeals, they may cost more and they may also need more repairs and upgrades. So this is a matter of ensuring you have the budget.

5. Purchase Price

This is the most critical factor that comes into play when buying a house. The budget of your house should be determined after a family discussion. Are you willing to take an extra loan, do you want to save more for your child’s education or a car? Once this aspect is planned out, get a pre-approved loan. Keep in mind that buying or purchasing a single-family home is a huge investment. You have to take out time and plan how all costs will affect your finances and stick to your decision on price range and mortgage payment.

6. Understand the Seller’s Incentive

Wow! You are being offered a spectacular home for 30% lower than the market rate. Before you pounce on the opportunity, think for a moment — what is the seller’s intent? You will often find that some sellers are more motivated than others. Many homeowners are compelled to sell due to market or financial situations. But others may want to quickly sell a home that is affected by mould, damp or even termites! Based on this, think and make an informed decision — and bargain!

7. Maintenance Requirements

Remember that unless you are building a house from scratch, the maintenance cost comes hugely into play. Do make a written or mental list of all the things that could use a little help. It could be the repairs, large or small, replacements or additions that can add a dent in your budget.

8. Public Transport

You want a home that is easily accessible through public transport. Preferably a train, subway or a bus station around. Cars are an option, but you would want to be in an area where public transport is not too far away!

9. Finalise your Mortgage/Loan

So many financial institutions and lenders give competitively priced loan programs. Make a list of questions on your mind and work out a deal that suits your financial requirements.

The right home can be for life. These little pointers will help you in buying a house for a family that you convert into a home!

After agreeing to buy a house get the best deals and free quotes from removalists in perth!