News & Insights
How doing your research can help a move run smoothly
Moving house is a time-consuming business, however doing your research and going in with a plan can help to make the process run a little more smoothly.
Write down what you need from the house long term. Will you need room for a family or pets? Is it important to you to have a garden or a driveway? It is important to think about the future as well as what you need right now, otherwise, you could find another move is required in your near future.
What furniture do you own already, and what will you want to take with you? Measure up the master bedroom to make sure there’s room for both your king-sized bed and your double wardrobe. Take your tape measure, a pencil and paper, and measure up twice. Don’t forget to take into account any oddly shaped protrusions from the wall, such as a chimney breast. If the room is not a perfect square or rectangle, you could find yourself unwittingly robbed of space.
Take your time to look around the property to really get a feel for it. Take some photographs on your phone so you can think about it at home, and remind yourself whether the window really did let a lot of light in or whether the kitchen really did have room for a breakfast bar.
Spend time exploring the local area as well, to make sure you know what the local businesses are and how busy it gets at different times of the day. If the house is situated on the main road, will this make it difficult for you to get out in the morning, or will you struggle to get parked after a long day at work? A nearby pub might seem like a great idea until you’re woken up by a chorus of patrons at 2 am.
Visit the property in different weather conditions, if possible, before you make a commitment to it. Whilst it might look wonderful, spacious and bright when the sun is shining, it might be a cold, damp hovel in the rain. Make sure you can love it at its worst as well as at its best. Ensure you arrange an independent house survey to make sure there are no hidden problems that could cost you money in the long term. A ‘quirky’ house can seem a lot less charming when you have to spend hundreds of pounds on a new roof months after moving in.
Get to know the new house’s secrets. Does it smell damp, or have suspicious mould under the stairs? Are there any hidden charges for ground rent or property maintenance? Is it in an area notorious for crime or disturbances? Your relationship with your home is going to be long-term and potentially expensive, so you want to make sure you go in with your eyes open. Check it from top to bottom – including the loft. You don’t want to find you have any unwelcome mouse lodgers or hidden mould in the rafters.
Your new home should be your favourite place to be, so take your time and make sure it’s the right move for you.
Please note: This article is intended as guidance only. No responsibility for loss occasioned/costs arising as a result of any act/failure to act on the basis of this article can be accepted by Latimer Hinks. In addition, no responsibility for loss occasioned/costs arising as a result of any act/failure to act on the basis of this article can be accepted by the firm.
