Well, not today; no one can get things tied up that quickly. But you get what we’re saying. Perhaps we should’ve titled it ‘steps to buying your dream home as quickly as is possible with all the bureaucratic obstacles in place’, but that wouldn’t have been very catchy, now would it?
Anyway, everybody has a dream home in mind, but it’s not always easy to find it. Even harder, is to afford it. These barriers, of cost and scarcity, shouldn’t mean owning your dream property is confined to The Sims alone. Instead, though the process of searching and buying a property can feel frustrating, there are measures in place and strategies you can adopt to make the whole thing much easier. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL steps to buying your dream home today.
HELP TO BUY
Three words which should be music to the ears of any prospective first home buyers, this.
Of course, the first step is putting enough money aside to put down a deposit on a home. In life, regrettably, there’s not so much you can do without money, and securing a house is no exception. That said, there are measures in place to enable you to invest; if you’re worried that it will take you too long to save for a deposit. Various mortgage and housing providers like Linden Homes, who offer buyers the opportunity to purchase their dream home with their help to buy schemes, fund 5% of the deposit yourself, with the government providing a loan of 20% to help cover the rest of it.
On top of this, the UK government’s official help to buy scheme offers buyers the chance to buy a share in a new build property, between 25% and 75%, lessening the burden of purchase.
This is a great way to get yourself onto the property ladder sooner rather than later and take advantage of incentives designed to encourage you to do just that.
CONSIDER THE LOCATION
The concept of your ‘dream home’ isn’t only the bricks, mortar and what lies within it. The bigger picture matters, too, and the location of the property is so important as this will impact its value (and its subsequent level of appreciation) and how you feel about living there.
All too often, you might see properties for sale and be surprised at what appears to be a low price despite the size and style of the house. This is likely because the area isn’t very desirable, which is why you must always consider the location diligently before purchase. Take some time exploring different areas you think you might like to live, staying for a few days at a time if possible, to get a natural feel for where your dream home might be.
SEE THE POTENTIAL
Terrible wallpaper and tacky furnishings can be off-putting when you’re trying to find a new home. However, it’s crucial not to get too caught up in the cosmetic details and instead look beyond those hideous drapes. Hang on, that means you’re staring out the window onto the street; turn round, we want your attention back in the room…
Hey. Hey! Look at how much potential the property has as a whole, visualising renovations and readjustments which will add value to your life as much to the house, and how you can redecorate in your own inimitable style. Try to keep those visions in your mind rather than getting blinded by the things you don’t like.
ALWAYS HAVE THE PROPERTY SURVEYED
Once you’ve realised firmer interest in a particular place, always endeavour to get a surveyor in to inspect the property more thoroughly before you finalise anything. When looking through a property, there might have been areas of it you didn’t see or issues you missed, or simply don’t have the capacity of expertise to identify.
Surveyors will do a thorough, in-depth inspection and are trained to spot signs of damage you might not be able to recognise. If there is any significant work that’s required on the house, you can use the surveyor’s report to negotiate the price, but also make an informed decision about whether or not you want to go through with the sale.
ACCEPT REALITY
One of the important things when looking for your dream home is this – there are no such places. Accept reality; that the perfect property is impossible to find, and it’s in the journey of purchase, renovation, finessing and acceptance that a house transitions into a home. Indeed. rarely does a place feel homely if everything is arranged at right angles, gleaming white, and perfectly clean.
But as Leonard Cohen once said ‘’forget your perfect offering, there’s a crack in everything. That’s where the light gets in’’. And just like that, you’ll find beauty in a property’s imperfections.