Ticking the Boxes
Must Have vs Would Like:
I can’t recall, when moving home, ever having actually made a list of boxes to be ticked, but it’s important at the outset to have a clear idea of what you want. At the risk of stating the obvious, think about ‘must have’ and ‘would like’.
My perfect home would be in a quiet location within walking distance of a wide range of amenities, especially where eating and drinking can be enjoyed. It would have a double garage, ample parking for visitors, a medium to large garden, sea views and country views. Needless to say, I don’t live in my perfect home.
Location (and What You Can’t Change)
As we are always being told, the main thing is Location, Location (I can’t remember the third one). Concentrate on the things that can’t be changed, whilst keeping in mind things that might change. When we bought our current home, we had a branch of our bank in the town centre, now gone, a post office a few metres down the road, now gone, and a nice restaurant just past where the post office was, now closed. So don’t make too many assumptions about the area you are buying in.
Parking and Practicalities
If parking is important, make sure you are OK with what’s available. I had to clear a relative’s flat in Islington when he passed away and not only could I not park near to where he had lived, I couldn’t even find a parking place in the same street. Not a problem for him when he was alive because he didn’t drive and had access to good public transport, but it could have been a problem for a car owner.
Be happy with the things that can’t be changed.
The Local Community
See what’s going on locally if that’s important, for example clubs, societies, cinemas and theatres. If you are lucky, you could even have some nice surprises. When we lived in France, we made a conscious effort to integrate into the local community. The farmer opposite us lived down the road from his brother and round the corner from their father, who was the mayor of the commune. We became good friends and were frequently invited to family gatherings.
Making Changes Carefully
If you find the property you want and you are happy with the things that cannot be changed, and can see a way to deal with the changes you want to make (bearing in mind you may need permission if you buy a Listed building, as we did when we last moved), then give some thought to whether the changes will really be for the better. We have some nice old stone houses near us which have replacement uPVC windows, ideal for low maintenance, but not so great for aesthetics. I have been guilty of changing period features in an old house when I was a young philistine and, although the changes looked good, the architectural integrity of the property would have been better retained had some of the apparently dated features been left in situ.
Think About Selling On
If you are buying for the next stage in your life, buy something that should, as far as you can tell, be easy to sell later. When the time comes, you won’t want to put your life on hold indefinitely while you wait for a buyer to come along.
It’s well known that moving home can be stressful, but it can also be an adventure. Just take your time and think carefully about what’s important. You will almost certainly not be able to tick every box, so make sure you tick the ones that matter most.
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