Choosing your new home in 2020!

Now that the general election is out of the way and the current government has been chosen to serve the UK for the next few years, we know that many are now hoping that this will mean good things for the current state of the housing market. 

Well unfortunately we don’t have a crystal ball, so we can’t comment on whether a steady government means good things for the housing market or not, but we do know that life goes on, situations change and that there will be people looking to move in 2020, whether through necessity due to life events, or simply because they want to make a change to their living accommodations. 

With Christmas on the horizon you might be thinking that people aren’t really house-hunting, but actually it’s a well-known fact that the Christmas period is one of the most popular times of the year to start house hunting.

According to popular property portal Rightmove.co.uk, over 1.6 million people visited its website between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day last year, with those hoping to move in the New Year property hunting in-between opening presents, watching Christmas films and over indulging on the Turkey, Mince Pies and Chocolates. 

So, if you are considering house hunting over the Christmas season, here are some tips to get you started.

What’s your Budget?

If you don’t know how much you can afford, then it can be tricky to work out which properties may be within your price range , so we would recommend working out what your mid-range and top-end budget for a property is to start off with, as this will most-likely determine the areas you will be hunting for a new home in, and the types of property you are planning on looking at. It may also be helpful to visit a mortgage advisor to get an idea of the mortgage figure you would likely be granted. We always recommend visiting an independent Mortgage Advisor, and if you need any suggestions, then please do feel free to get in touch. 

Location, Location, Location 

Although you may have your heart set on a certain type of property, ultimately, many people will be considering the location of their property as a priority above anything else. 

It may be that you have a couple of options for locations, or perhaps your move depends on being in a certain area for schools, travel to work, ease of transport to the motorway, train station or a need to be close to family and friends. So firstly, decide on the proximity of the location you REALLY want to live in, and then perhaps also consider options for locations you would be willing to compromise on if the property met all of your criteria. 

Decide on your property must-haves 

Write a list of all of the things you want your property to have. Perhaps split the list into Must-Haves and Nice-to-Haves. 

For example, how many Bedrooms does the property have to have? Would you prefer a house versus an apartment? What about Parking, or a big Garden? Are these high on your must have list? Would you rather have a kitchen-diner or a lounge-diner? Is an en-suite bathroom, garage or utility room a non-negotiable? Knowing what amenities, you would really like your new home to have and what is a negotiable vs non-negotiable can really help you to narrow down your search, although remember, it’s all about potential! If the property doesn’t tick all of your boxes, does it have the potential to do so in the future? 

Get Online and start booking appointments!

Although Christmas week may not be the time that home owners will thank you for visiting their homes, there is no harm in booking an appointment to view the property in the new year, so if you see something that you like, it’s always worth making an enquiry about it. 

Do also be aware that there may be a flurry of new properties which come on the market in the new year. Your Estate Agent may have info on some which are set to be advertised from the New Year which meet your requirements, so do ask what stock they currently have available and whether they know of anything suitable coming onto the market in the next few weeks also. 

We are always very happy to offer help and advice on all things moving, selling, lettings and rental related so please do get in touch for any ways that we can help 

Why not get in touch, or visit us in the Office to get ahead for your next move in 2020. Give us a call on 01727 221290 or 01442 230400.

From all of us here at Aubrey and Finn, we want to thank all those who have supported our business during 2019, and we look forward to serving St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and the local community in 2020!