Finding a Home (continued.)

Financial Services > Mortgages > Information > Searching for a house (continued.)

So once you have worked out the big three points from the previous page, you're ready to go see an estate agent. As you have roughly decided on the location, visit the estate agents in that area. You can then provide more detail to the estate agent as to the type of property you wish to purchase, and they should hopefully come back to you with a selection of properties to view.

What further features of a house should you discuss with the estate agent when deciding upon a property? We recommend you think about the following:

Any other issues that may concern you can be addressed by the estate agent. It is essential that you visit several estate agents in the area you have targeted, as any new property will only be held by one estate agent, so to see all the properties in any given area, you really must visit all the local estate agents. Many estate agents are in large national networks, so may offer alternative areas for you to consider. The larger chains have their own internet sites, and these can also be a valuable tool when house-hunting.

You will obviously have to pay a fee to the estate agent through whom you purchase a house. In some instances, houses that have been on the market for some time (and you should investigate why the house has not sold, despite being on the market for an extended period of time) may be offered by more than one estate agent.

When it comes to actually viewing a house, we recommend that you print off our Home Buyers Checklist and complete it as you view the house. This is a simple but effective way of recording all the important information from the houses that you visit, and will be invaluable as you decide on the property to purchase, its merits, and the price you are prepared to pay for it. Now all you have to do is decide on which house you want.

Happy house-hunting!

Searching For a Place << | >> Paying for It