Source: Unsplash
I’m very lucky that not only have I managed to settle down in the city that I love, but that I’ve also managed to get on the housing ladder too! As anyone looking to buy in a popular location knows, there are plenty of hurdles and potential pitfalls. Sometimes you can be so rushed through a house viewing that you forget if there were really two toilets, or if the garden had a shed or not. Anyway, I digress. Here’s the advice I would have loved before I started my house hunting journey!
Take Your Time
The job of an estate agent is to make you feel at home, ensure you’re comfortable, and sell you the house as quickly as possible! The sellers have all kinds of reasons for needing to sell quickly and not all of them are happy ones, relationship breakdowns and divorce are common, but so too is growing a family and needing to size up! Either way, from finding your perfect home to prioritising selling a house after divorce, there are lots of reasons for needing to sell – and sell fast. Dealing with the fallout from a divorce is much easier with the house already sold, moving on with another house purchase is only possible with the house sold.
With that said, don’t be afraid to ask for a little more time to really get a feeling for the space! I never once had an estate agent say no. Getting a bit more time to poke around in the loft space or even just check whether all the burners on the hob work is time well spent and a question worth asking.
You Can’t Out Decorate a Poor Layout
Source: Unsplash
I love a great interior as much as the next person, in fact probably more, but decor can’t cure everything. I was almost sold on a different flat which the owner had put such a lovely stamp on. The kitchen units were beautiful with a butcher block top, the bathroom tiles were stunning Talavera ones all the way from Mexico, even the jute carpets were effortlessly stylish. But, you had to walk through the dining room and kitchen just to get to the bathroom.
With two youngsters I could only imagine the potty training pandemonium that would have to take place to get us from the lounge to the loo. What I’m trying to say is – layouts really matter. Think about how you use the space in your own home. Think about what rooms you’ve always wished were a bit bigger (or indeed a bit closer together). Look for a layout that you know will work for you and your family.
Trust Your Gut
It sounds corny, but sometimes you step into a house, and you just know. It feels like arriving home. On the other side of the coin, sometimes you step into a house, and it feels cold, uninviting, or even dismal. Nowadays, we’re encouraged so strongly to think with our heads and not our hearts, but personally? I think you’ve got to trust your gut. Sure, if there’s water pooling on the floor or plants growing out of the walls, consult your head too! But truly, if you know it’s the one. Go for it.