For most people, buying a house in London is one of the largest purchases they will make in their lifetime. You can find your dream home in many ways, but you will need nicelocal to narrow down your options.
Before rushing into anything, there are some questions you should ask yourself so that you know what to look for when browsing through listings until one catches your eye. Here are eight questions to help get the ball rolling:
1) What is my budget?
What price am I realistically looking for? This can be tricky, as it may take time to go through listings and learn how much more expensive homes are than originally anticipated by the buyer.
However, you should at least be aware of a real number in your head that you can stick to. The more flexible your budget, the more options you have.
2) How big do I want it?
When considering how many rooms you want in your new home, it is important to consider what kind of lifestyle you wish you could live and the number of family members or roommates occupying the property.
A larger house typically costs more per square foot than a smaller one, so this is a case where studying the market will come in handy before deciding on your ideal square footage.
3) What types of finishes do I want?
With paint choices and other expensive decorative materials, it is important to know what kind of look and feel you want in your home before putting pen to paper or online. Should the need arise for your new abode, you will have the option to stand on your own feet.
4) Do I need a pool or hot tub?
Houses with pools and hot tubs are all the rage, but it is important to consider how much maintenance the home will require. Not all homes have these amenities installed, so you will want to weigh what is most important in your final decision.
5) What kind of neighbourhood am I looking for?
Many factors go into choosing the right neighbourhood to buy a house, so it is important to know what you are looking for before locking down on a property that fits your needs.
You want to avoid neighbourhoods where crime is common or where many residents have similar personal interests as yourself.
6) How important is the school system?
Of course, everyone wants the best for their children, but it is also important to know that a house in an excellent school district does not always translate into a bigger pay cheque.
For example, you should think about whether you have any plans to move out of the area or not. Suppose you decide on a home in an exceptional school district and later find yourself wanting to move somewhere else with better employment prospects; the odds are that your kids will be going to another school district altogether.
7) How close will I be to my dream neighbourhood?
If you are putting a large amount of equity into a property and you need to sell the home, you want to buy something within walking distance of the places you like to go.
This may seem counterproductive, but if your new house is too far away from the things that make your life enjoyable, you will spend a lot of money on gas, time wasted traveling back and forth, and the emotional toll the commute takes on you.
While it is all well and good to consider all of these things, remember that ultimately it comes down to your personal preference. There is no one-size-fits-all when buying a house, so you might want to play around with different options for quite a while before deciding on the best one for yourself.
When searching for houses for sale near me, consider London’s nicelocal. Our company provides listings of houses available for sale and the price that the owner is asking for them. In addition, it has a handy search bar to narrow down to the house you want to view.
