Take the hassle out of moving
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| Amongst the three most stressful things in life they say death
comes first, divorce second, and moving house a marginal third.
They're exaggerating aren't they? Well - no. |
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| Moving on
Very few of us manage to avoid moving at some point
in our lives. When it's your turn, prepare for excitement,
hassle, setbacks, despair, joy, irritation and lesser
known emotions in between. It's called English Property
Law. Don't question your sanity. When you wonder if
it's all worth it, console yourself in the knowledge
that thousands are in the same boat. You and most of
the others will step out unscathed, exhausted but happy.
So what's the best way to go about it?
FIND A HOME
Ask yourself:
1. Is your new house a place to live in or a base to
work from?
2. Is it an investment in you or in a rising housing
market?
3. Do you wish to become part of the new locality or
are you happy to pass through anonymously?
Be methodical
Give yourself options and don't jump for the first place
you fancy. Caroline Doherty, 34, a senior TV producer,
has just bought her third property, a one-bedded 'oasis
of calm' in Stamford Hill, north London. 'I looked at
five properties every day for a week. The one I've bought
was the last house I viewed on the last day.' Her approach
may appear unconventional, but she did the right thing.
'I was so excited when I was told my offer had been accepted
that I had to gulp a glass of wine to calm me down!'
Check out the area
When you do find a property you like, take a look around
the surrounding area. 'Good areas' can turn into 'bad
areas' in a matter of yards. Check for the abattoir around
the corner. There's a lifetime's money at stake - most
if it not yours.
Check out the neighbours
Whilst you're at it, ask discreet questions about the
neighbours. They make such a difference. A sly peek over
the garden fence may mean the difference between feeling
at home and featuring in the next series of Neighbours
From Hell.
Finally, remember that moving house is not a science.
If a house feels right, it probably is right.
FIND A SOLICIT0R
Pay for a professional
The better the solicitor, the less you'll have to worry
about. A good solicitor will look after your interests
and no-one else's. His job is to ensure good title to
the most important asset you're ever likely to own.
Follow recommendations
Choose a solicitor you know, or go on the recommendations
of friends. Caroline hired hers after sending an email
to everyone at work asking them to recommend a one: 'I
got 25 responses, and one solicitor was named in nine
of them. I chose him.'
Shop around
Check his fees before instructing him. Gone are the days
when solicitors charged by a common scale. Feel free to
shop around and bargain - but remember that cheapest is
not necessarily best. Get the best you can afford - in
the long run, good solicitors are well worth the cost.
FIND A MORTGAGE
Choose the best one for you
Getting a mortgage is the easiest part. (Everybody wants
to lend you money). Go to a well know name, like a bank
or building society. Chances are you'll be baffled by
the complexity of 'products' and interest rate options,
but choose according to your circumstances. 'The cheapest
mortgage isn't necessarily the best for you,' warns money
expert, Fergus Muirhead. Differentiate between cheap and
good value and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.
Don't over borrow
However tempting, don't over borrow. Many mortgage lenders
and brokers will lend you more than you can afford, leaving
you to deal with the consequences. Allow for eventualities
- planning a baby? - and insure against changes in circumstance.
Property survey
Have one. Your building society will, in any case, insist
on a professional evaluation and minimum survey, but think
of paying more. Choose a qualified professional, probably
a chartered surveyor who will offer two more detailed
levels of survey. For peace of mind, choose the highest
you can afford. The fee will be a just tiny part of your
outlay, and will bring to light problems now rather then
as they emerge in years to come. A survey may even discover
defects that affect your offer or even lead to a withdrawal
from the purchase.
When you're happy, your solicitor will take over, coordinating
the whole process and sometime later produce a contract
for you to sign. Once signed and exchanged with the seller,
there's no going back.
Five steps to a hassle-free move :
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Do your homework
Take your time - don't rush decisions
Choose professionals carefully
Avoid temptation - be realistic about your
finances
Trust your instincts
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