It has been said that buying a house can be the most stressful time in a person’s life and it’s easy to see why. There is so much involved, so much at stake and so much waiting that it’s enough to send the calmest person into a frenzy of anxiety and worry. But don’t let it put you off – buying a new house can also be exciting and a great step forward in your life. You just need to to know how to do it! We’ll take you through the whole process in a no-nonsense way so you know what to expect.
Viewing
The first step is to find your perfect house! This will be no mean feat – there will be lots to get through but persevere and you’ll find the right one for you. Work out what you are happy to compromise on and what you can live without to narrow down your search. It can take what seems like forever to find a house that you can imagine yourself being happy living in but be patient – you will find it eventually. Leave no stone unturned in your hunt – go and see everything.
Put an Offer In
The next step when you have found the house for you is to put an offer in. If it is accepted then that’s great, but if not you might have to review it and put a better one in. How high you go depends on how much you want the house.
Apply For a Mortgage
Unless you have the cash you’ll need to organise a mortgage. Your financial advisor can help you with this. There are lots of different types of mortgages available on the market so it’s really important that you understand exactly what you’re getting, and whether it will work for you.
Get a Survey
The house you are buying will need to be checked over by a qualified building surveyor so that you can make sure there’s nothing wrong with it. A surveyor will produce a very detailed report letting you know all about the house’s construction and it will also include things like where the boundaries are and whether there are any immediate maintenance issues to address.
Exchange…
Once you have a building survey that you are happy with and a mortgage that has been approved it’s time to sign on the dotted line! You’ll need a solicitor to help you through this process and be prepared for a few issues to rear their heads before every party is happy that the deal can go ahead.
…and Move!
Once the house is yours, you’ll then have the task of moving into it! We suggest you employ a specialist removal firm to help you – they will provide the boxes and do all the lifting and shifting so it takes an awful lot of hassle out of the whole process.
While house-buying is a pretty major thing to do, you’ll reap the benefits when you’re finally settled in, so keep that in mind throughout all the chaos – it’ll keep you sane!
Author of this post, Sarah Thomas, is a real estate executive working with a Melbourne based land surveyor. Sarah is a social media buff and likes spending her time working with plants in her yard.