Finding the right home
The fun stage, and the dangerous one. This is where emotion takes over and people make expensive mistakes. Stay structured.
You've got an AIP in your pocket. Estate agents will now take you seriously. The temptation is to view everything you can, fight that. View structured, view skeptically, and view twice before offering on anything.
Most first-time buyers view properties at peak times, Saturday morning sunshine, with three other interested couples in the kitchen. That's the worst possible time to make an honest assessment. Always do a second viewing at a different time of day, ideally on a weekday and in different weather.
Use these before you offer
Before you make an offer, check the things that are hard to change later: flood risk, planning applications nearby, school catchments, broadband speed, the EPC rating, the council tax band and, for a flat, the lease. Most of it is free to look up online, and your conveyancer will dig deeper once your offer is accepted.
When you've worked through everything in this stage, mark it complete to track your overall progress.
Found this useful? If you'd rather talk it through with a real broker, book a free chat with DS Financial, the regulated mortgage adviser.
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