If you’re thinking about buying a new home next year, it’s important to work out exactly what you’re looking for. The new year is a great time to start searching for a new house; it marks a fresh calendar year and is the perfect time for change and new beginnings.
However, before you start your search for your dream home, it’s important you take the time to work out what’s important to you. Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases of your life, so it’s important you make no mistakes – and this means you shouldn’t settle for a home that doesn’t provide you with what you need.
To help you out, we’ve put together a huge list of everything you need to think about when viewing a house or flat. While it’s likely no property will be completely perfect, there are some properties that will be better suited to you than others.
Location, location, location
Firstly, it’s important you work out exactly what location you’d like to live in. Some areas are going to be cheaper than others, but it’s all about what’s important to you. If you get the location wrong, you’re either going to be unhappy with where you live or face the costs of moving again, so it’s crucial you take your time when working out the right location.
When choosing a location, consider the following questions:
- Do you want to be close to family?
- Do you want to live in a busy happening place with lots of life, or a quiet area?
- Are you looking to live in a rural or urban area?
- How long will it take you to get to work?
- Do you want to be able to walk to the shops?
- Are there employment opportunities in the area?
- Are there good transport links?
- Are you willing to commute?
- Is the neighbourhood nice?
Make sure you do plenty of research into the area before you make any decisions. If you’re not completely sure about an area, it may be worth renting first to see if it’s right for you.
Size and floor plan
How big your property is will greatly depend on your plans. Do you plan to have children there? Are you hoping to sell it again five years from now? Is it just you and your partner moving in?
A large home will give you the extra space you may have always wanted for a meditation room or a home office. However, you’ll be spending more on bills, taxes and – of course – the overall purchase price. A small home will be less expensive to move into, but if you’re planning to grow your family or you’re going to need to work from home, you could find yourself having to move to a bigger property again in just a few years time.
It’s important to think about your home space and how you plan to use it, both now and in the future. Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need and go from there. There’s no point viewing a beautiful quaint cottage in your ideal neighbourhood if it doesn’t have enough bedrooms. Similarly, there’s no point wasting your time viewing properties that are simply too big for your needs.
Windows and lighting
Is natural light important to you? Today, one of the most important or ‘must-have’ features people look for when buying a new home is natural lighting. Many homebuyers look out for light, airy properties that allow plenty of natural light to flood in. Not only does natural light brighten up rooms and make them look bigger and more spacious, but it can help boost our mood and improve our wellbeing too. After all, no one wants to live in a dark or dingy home.
Make sure you pay attention to the windows, which way the house faces and how much natural light it gets. Remember, you can always add artificial lighting to brighten the space too – just make sure you look at the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures.
Storage
You’re likely going to need some storage space. It’s worth keeping in mind that lots of older properties don’t have built-in storage space, whereas newer builds are often designed with space and storage in mind. Whether you have lots of clothes, items you’re saving for your future children or just simply loads of stuff, it’s important you have enough space for it.
You can always add your own storage space, but this will of course rack up the pennies. If storage is important to you, make sure you look out for properties that feature plenty of storage space.
The kitchen
The kitchen is considered to be one of the most important rooms in the home. It’s where we cook up delicious meals, enjoy a glass of wine with friends and bake with our children, so it’s important the kitchen is a place we enjoy spending time in. Don’t settle for a kitchen that won’t work; while you can always renovate your kitchen, it will be costly and time-consuming. Instead, it’s worth spending that extra bit of time finding a property with a kitchen that meets your needs from the get-go.
If you don’t quite like the countertops or cabinets, these can be replaced fairly easily. However, it’s important the general layout and space meets your needs and you can see yourself and your family using it easily.
Garden
For some people, a garden will be extremely important and at the top of their property must-have list. For others, a garden isn’t important. When searching for the perfect property, it’s important to check out the garden. Even the most overgrown, unruly gardens can be cut down and tamed to reveal big spaces that meet your needs.
Work out how much outdoor space you’ll need. For example, if you have children and a dog, you’ll likely want plenty of space for them to run around in. If you’re a couple looking to buy in the heart of a city, you may be happy with a small balcony instead. Work out what works for you and go from there.
Make your move stress-free with Essex Removals
Once you’ve found the perfect property, it’s time to start the moving process. Moving house can be very stressful, so it’s important you have a reliable and reputable removals company on hand to help you move. At Essex Removals, we provide a comprehensive range of removals services to companies and residents in Essex, London and across the South East,
Our team of highly experienced removalists are committed to delivering the best service possible for our customers. Our logistical team plan every move in great detail, so you can rely on us to ensure your move goes smoothly from start to finish. We’ll take care of all of the details for you, from packing your belongings and loading them onto suitable transportation to unloading them at your new destination. This means you can focus on the finer details of your move!
If you’re looking for a team that you can trust to transport your valuable possessions in complete safety, you needn’t look further than us. To learn more about our services, visit our website.
