If you are currently a home owner and need to sell your existing property in order to make your onwards purchase, the first thing you will need to do is put your property on the market. We would recommend you invite three local reputable independent agents who have extensive local knowledge of the area.
Next, you should establish the minimum requirements for your new home. What are your absolute must-haves? Not just in terms of numbers of rooms, but also other key factors like commutability, access to schools, and so on. You also need to work out your maximum budget.
This might sound glaringly obvious, but you wouldn't believe the number of people who waste a great deal of their own time, looking at properties that they can't afford and which don't really meet their needs. In both cases, a good estate agent and a good financial advisor can help you clarify things.
Whilst many factors suggest you should only be ruled by your head, rather than your heart, ultimately choosing a home is a very emotional business. So you should allow some emotional attachment to a new property but still be clear in your own mind about the key parameters of your search. Once you've got all of that in order, you can allow both your heart and your head have a say!
When it comes to house-hunting itself many people tend to start searching on the Internet these days. However, there is still a very important place for the traditional way of doing things, spending a weekend or two mooching up and down your chosen high street, visiting all the agents. This is particularly useful if you are planning to move to an entirely new area, since it also gives you the opportunity to check out the neighbourhood in a way that no amount of web-surfing can match. Either way, you will need to register with the agent, or agents. In doing so, make sure you give them all the information you can regarding your requirements and your financial situation, etc. Building a rapport with a good local agent will mean that they can really learn what you want and have you at the front of their minds when visiting new instructions or valuations that are right up your street.
Finally, when it comes to checking out individual properties, be selective. Sometimes people ask me how many properties they should look at, and I always reply, "As many as it takes". Book viewings with the agent to go and visit your chosen properties and always in daylight.
Last, but no means least, be patient. Remember, this is probably the biggest investment you'll ever make, so don't rush!
