As we settle into the new year, many of us are thinking about the changes that we would like to make this year. For some that might be a new job, it might be a new hobby or it might be a new home. If that’s you and you are yearning to move house this year, then today we have got you covered with our 7 steps to moving home.
7 Steps To Moving Home
Identify your motivation
The first thing that you should do is dig down to identify your motivation for moving. We say to start here as sometimes the upheaval and expense of a house move can be avoided.
It might be that you are feeling restless and something else will quash your restlessness, or perhaps you are dissatisfied with your home but something can be done to address that. You might opt to redecorate instead, renovate and extend to get the layout that you are dreaming of or perhaps you will redesign your kitchen.
Work out exactly what it is that is pushing you to want to move home so that you can be sure that a house move is the best way forward for you.
Run the numbers
You will now need to run the numbers and check to see whether the move is a viable option for you. Call up your mortgage broker and spend some time going through your finances with them.
They should then be able to let you know how much you will be able to borrow against your next home. They should also be able to give you an idea of how much your new mortgage will cost you each month so that you can ensure that you are comfortable with the new figure.
Prepare your own home: 7 Steps To Moving Home
If you are happy that moving is right for you and you have the finances in place, then the next thing you will need to do is prepare your own home so that it is in a good condition to sell.
You will need to address all of those odd jobs that you keen meaning to get around to. There might be some decorating to do and it is worth decluttering and having a good clear out if you have not done so for a while.
Try to look at your home critically and address any issues that you think prospective buyers might have with it before they raise them. Your real estate agent should be able to help you to do this, so do ask for their advice.
When you feel it is looking as good as it possibly can do, then you can get your home on the market. Ensure that it is tidy for those viewings and then wait for that offer to come in. However, if you need to relocate in a hurry, you can sell your home directly to an investor like Your Trusted Home Buyer, this way you won’t need to go through a possibly long selling process.
Draw up your wishlist
Now that you are in a position to move, you should work on drawing up your wishlist for your next property. You will want to consider locations first and foremost. You might already have a neighborhood in mind, or you might know what you want from a location and are open to looking at different areas. Location can play a big part in a property hunt, so do give some thought to this one.
You then want to think about all of those things that are important to you in your new home, and then those things that you would like to have if possible. It is useful to identify those things that you are willing to compromise on and those that you aren’t. If you are buying with someone else, you really need to agree on these areas too, before beginning your search.
Start the property hunt
Armed with your wishlist, you can now start property hunting. It is worth contacting the real estate agents in the areas that you are looking at and filling them in on your requirements. You can also carry out your own searches online. Do be careful not to disregard potential homes by being too picky viewing online, it will serve you well to get out there and look around the potentials in real life.
If you are moving out of the area, it is worth spending some time in the neighborhoods that you are considering. Along with checking out the house itself, walk the high street, view local schools and drive around exploring the town.
When you are viewing the house, don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions. Find out why it is on the market and check into things such as the neighbors, the running costs and any alterations they have made.
People say that you will just know when you find the right house. Whilst this is true for some people, don’t worry if this does not happen to you. If it ticks all of your boxes and you can see yourself living there, then it might well be the one for you.
Make that offer: 7 Steps To Moving Home
This is it, you have found the house! You just need to secure it now by making that offer.
You will usually do this through the real estate agent. Be prepared to negotiate if you are offering below the asking price, and ensure that it is a fair price so that you don’t close down the negotiations before they even begin. Your agent will guide you if you are unsure of this and they may have some idea of the sort of offer that would be accepted.
Play to your strengths here, and along with the offer itself, let them know that you are sold and ready to move and that you have your funds in place.
Make the necessary arrangements
As soon as you have your offer accepted on your next home, you will need to make all of the necessary arrangements.
You will need to go back to your mortgage broker to make a full mortgage application on the new property. Along with the broker, you will need to instruct a lawyer, you will want to hire a moving company and you might need to make applications for school or work transfers.
There are then the fun plans that you can make. You are probably going to need a few essentials furnishings for your new place and you can start planning any decorating projects that you are keen to take on. You should also remember that you need to secure the property. This could mean replacing the locks or getting a window replacement company to install new windows. But this is your new home, so make it as secure as you want. But remember to enjoy the entire process. It’s a new start, and you should enjoy every single moment. Most vendors will be happy for you to visit again to take measurements and photos to help you get everything ready.
I hope you found these 7 Steps To Moving Home helpful! Is there anything you would like to add?
