Moving House in 2015?

Moving house is one of the most stressful things any of us will do. However, there are steps you can take to make life easier.

Searching for your dream home should be an exciting time. However, making the move into a new property can leave you filled with stress and anxiety.

Days, weeks and even months spent scouring local newspapers and the internet, traipsing through other people’s houses and negotiating with agents will put pressure on your time. And what seemed exciting at first can soon turn to hassle and frustration.

Then there’s your own pad to think about. If you want the best price, all those jobs you’ve been putting off for years will need to be finished to impress the strangers who will (hopefully!) be arriving on the doorstep for a look around.

Keeping your property looking in tip-top condition can be tough, especially if your home sits on the market for a while. If you’re lucky, you will get a decent offer within days and if you do, great. But don’t think you are in for an easy ride.

Once a buyer is in place and you’ve found your dream property, you will need to be regularly talking with surveyors, solicitors, estate agents and banks, and making sure you can meet the financial burden moving house involves. After all, moving fees alone run into thousands of pounds.

Here are a few things you can do to relieve the tension:

1. One in three property chains fall apart, according to research. Selling your house first and moving into rented accommodation will put you in a stronger position when it comes to negotiating a price for the property you later find to buy, and you will have no chain behind you. However, this can be risky if house prices rise.

2. When it comes to decluttering, don’t delay. Too many personal belongings and keepsakes can distract buyers and put them off. Declutter before they even step through the door and get rid of anything that you don’t want to take to your new home. This will make life easier on moving day, and you could even raise some money towards the cost of moving by selling your wares.

3. As soon as you decide to move, talk to mortgage lenders and get a mortgage offer in place. This will put you in a stronger position when negotiating with sellers.

4. Be realistic about the value of your property. Do your homework to find out what homes are selling for in your area and get valuations from at least three agents, then price to sell.

5. Make sure you have a Home Information Pack in place to enable your estate agent to market your property.

6. Employ a conveyancing solicitor early on, even before you have found a buyer. Consider going by recommendation, not just price. By acting sooner rather than later, the relevant paperwork can be prepared and ready to send as soon as you have a buyer. Be upfront with your solicitor about any potential problems you foresee with your property.

7. Consider bringing in a removals firm. While hiring a van and moving your own belongings can be cheaper, you may well pay the price in terms of your stress levels and damage to your belongings. Be sure to shop around though to find the best price and book ahead, a few weeks before your moving date.

8. Avoid same day exchange and completion and, ultimately, maximum stress.

9. Keep in regular contact with you solicitor and estate agent. Good communication is vital.

10. Skimp on a survey and you could pay the price in the long-term. As a minimum, opt for a Homebuyers’ Report.