Moving is certainly an exciting time, but it can also be a stressful one. There are several different things that you need to think about before you even start looking for your perfect home. You may already have a detailed list of everything you need to think or you might have only just decided to start looking for your next home. 

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Have a look below at some of the key things you should consider when looking for your next home: 

What Are Your Requirements? 

When looking for a home you are going to have certain requirements on your list. Some will be needs and some will be the wants that you are able to compromise on. You need to think carefully about everything you put on your list. Unfortunately, it’s quite unlikely that you will find a home that has absolutely everything including your wants too but it may be possible to find one that has the potential to grow into your perfect home. Some of the things to think about include: 

• The size of the home you need.
• How many bedrooms do you need? 
• Do you need it to be accessible? 
• Is it close to good schools? 
• Can you commute easily to work? 
• Does it need to have work completed or is it move-in ready? 
• What size of garden are you after? 
• Is there car parking? 
• And others.

Once you have our list of requirements sorted into to needs and wants you can start your search. It’s a great piece of information to give to people like estate agents and property developers like AVID as it can help to narrow down your search. 

What’s Your Budget? 

This is one of the most important areas that you need to think about when searching for your home. You need to be well aware of what you can afford on a monthly basis and not skint yourself out. You need to think about what you are going to able to live with and cope with. Sit down write out your monthly incoming and outgoings and really think about what you can afford to pay out each month. It will help to prevent that risk of you missing payments in the future. It’s a good idea to make an appointment with a mortgage advisory who will be able to look at your monthly budget, your income and credit rating to find you the best mortgage deals and inform you of the maximum amount you can borrow. It’s sensible not to borrow the maximum amount but if it’s going to get you the home that you want then it’s a consideration that you should make. Once you know how much you can borrow you can limit your search to the houses on the market that you know you can afford. Bear in mind that you can barter on prices on the market on occasions so always ask if there is deal to be made. 

Are You Willing To Take On A Project? 

Before you start the search for your home you need to consider if you are willing to complete any work on your new home or not. There are always two types of people when searching for a home. Those who are willing to take on a working project and those who want something that is move-in ready. You need to think about where you fall as it may affect the homes that you view. You may even find that you start off thinking you want to take on a project but after viewing a few houses and working out your budget, a move-in ready home slowly becomes more appealing. Taking on a home that needs a lot of work, however, can help you to achieve the perfect home for you. It enables you to make changes and put your own stamp on your home right from the start. You should always take any work needed into consideration when working out your budget for your mortgage as you may need to spend less on your home so you have the funds available to complete any needed tasks. Don’t be afraid to ask for more than one viewing and make sure you arrange a property inspection on any home you re buying. On the other hand, moving into a home that is move-in ready can give you a good year or a few years before you need to start taking on any big projects. Often these type of homes have a usable kitchen and bathroom and don’t need any immediate decorating unless you need to change to more your taste. 

These three areas are important for you to consider when looking for your next home, do you have anything else that should be considered? Please share them in the comments below.