Tops Tips for Buying A New Home This Winter
When you are moving home, you are going to have a million and one different things on your mind. If you are buying a new property while trying to sell your old one, you are signing up for one of the most stressful experiences that most people will ever go through. It may not seem reasonable, or fair given how often many of us have to do it, and it certainly seems like we should have all figured out a way to make it less of an ordeal by now, but the fact remains that buying a new home can really put you through the wringer.
It feels especially stressful right now given that the UK has seen a staggering rise in housing prices during the pandemic as so many people reconsidered their situation in the wake of lockdown. We realised that maybe more space and maybe even a garden were more important than that pricey city centre location, and the result was that legions of people were all trying to sell and buy at the same time. The property market may be difficult for a while yet, but let’s focus on the things that you can control. Here are a few tips to help make your move a little less stressful.
It’s Time To Get Organised
Moving home can be a time of absolute chaos. You will have a stack of paperwork that you need to look through, and which your partner may need to sign off on as well if you are moving with someone. You will have a hundred different tabs open on your browser as you try to juggle research with calculating your finances (more on that in just a moment) and everything else that you need to get done in a normal workday. If you want to make sure that you can keep your head above water and not get lost in the clutter, then you need to find a way to help yourself get organised. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and start working on some spreadsheets.
Another easy tip to solicit help whether from friends or family or professionals. If you’ve gone down the latter route then you’ll want to source a local company to help with the move and let them take care of that. Whether you’re looking for a removal company in Fulham, Farnham or anywhere else in the UK, there will be a local company able to assist and advise on making the actual move easier.
Budget Carefully
Anyone who has bought a new home will tell you that there are always more expenses than you have bargained for. There is a fee for everything, from the lawyers to the surveyors, and once you move in you will almost certainly find that there are a lot of things that need to be replaced. Given that we are all trying to tighten our belts right now with rising energy costs and tax increases, not to mention how high a lot of the house prices are, you will have to tread carefully to make sure that you avoid going over your budget.
With that in mind, draw up a budget and know exactly how high your limit is. Factor in your existing expenses and remember that you will need to keep up any existing loan repayments if you are applying for a mortgage. Anything that gets missed will show up on your credit score. If it starts to feel like the whole thing is getting too expensive, then it may be time to back off and regroup.
Plan Improvements Ahead Of Time
When we look round a new property, the list of things that we want to change starts growing as soon as we set foot in the door. You should remember that once you move in and start getting settled, it can be very easy to tell yourself that you will get around to those changes later on. That is why it is a big help to start actively working on that list as soon as possible before you move to ensure that your new home actually feels like your new home as soon as you can make it so.
We know that the big projects will often have to wait, but there are plenty of changes that you can make right away that will have a big impact on how your new property looks and feels. Blinds are a great example of this. They can change the mood of a room and they can be very simple to install. Motorised roller blinds, for example, can be a stylish addition to your living space and gives you control of light points for working at home. If you would like to learn more, look at this range of roller blinds from Lifestyle Blinds. They have blinds for each of your living spaces with a great selection of colours and styles for whatever mood you want to create in your home.
Visit The Area You Are Moving To
Moving home is not always as simple as packing up a van and moving a few streets over. If you are moving further afield, it can be very disorienting if you have not properly researched the area. It is always a good idea to set a few days aside so that you can visit your new neighbourhood and explore. Find out where the good supermarkets are, the good cafés, the good pubs. Look for local green spaces and see what kind of transport links are available.
You should also try to visit the area at different times of day, so you get a feel for what the atmosphere is like. Remember that the estate agent will always try to show you the property and the area in the most flattering light that they can, so think about an evening or early morning visit to get a proper idea of where you are moving to. If you have friends or family in the area, reach out to them for some first-hand advice, and you can always look for neighbourhood message boards and social media groups to see what kind of things people are talking about.
Don’t Forget To Update Your Details
When you are in the process of moving, so much of your time and attention will be spent on identifying the next fire to put out. What is the next major problem that needs to be solved, the next thing that needs to be paid for, and so on. That makes it very easy to lose sight of some of those crucial admin duties. Get a head start and make a list of all the providers and businesses that you need to alert to your move and change in living situation now.
It is so important to make sure that you have your insurance set up as soon as possible, particularly with warnings of a very wet winter on the way. You do not want to be left without internet in your new property for too long, particularly if you are still working from home. Contact your current provider to see how long it will take to switch you over or compare prices from other suppliers if this feels like a good time to switch. Energy and water bills should obviously be a priority, and you need to register with the local council to avoid having to pay any overdue council tax. From your TV license to your mail subscriptions, there is going to be a long list of updates to make but you will sleep better knowing that you have done all of this.
