Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Home

Fri, Jan 10, 2025 04:59 CET

Whether you are a first-time buyer or renter or simply looking for a change from your existing home, searching for a new property can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding challenge. If we want to find the home of our dreams, however, it is a process that cannot be rushed and involves a great deal of thought, careful consideration, and future planning.

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Below, property and construction expert Thomas Goodman at MyJobQuote.co.uk goes over the important things you will need to consider when choosing your next home. From the budget to the location to the energy efficiency of the property, there are several things that you may need to consider. Read on to learn some of the top things that you will want to consider when choosing your new abode:

Budget

Before commencing a property search, you will need to carefully assess your financial situation and set a realistic budget that accounts for property prices and any additional costs.

The first decision to make is whether you want to buy or rent your home. If you wish to buy, you will typically need to make a down payment of at least 10-20% of the property’s overall price and then begin to calculate your monthly mortgage payments.

You must also remember to consider any other costs that could be involved in the process, such as solicitor fees and the expense of any renovation or maintenance work that needs to be done on the property.

Location

With a budget set, the ideal start to your property search is to carefully consider the location you wish to move to. Be it somewhere close to home, a move to the countryside, or a fresh new start in a bustling city, there are a number of factors to consider.

This includes the value of properties within the area and proximity to any desired amenities such as schools, parks, leisure activities, and transport facilities. It is a good idea to visit the neighbourhood you are looking to move to at different times of the day to really get a feel for activity in the area.

Outdoor Space

For a number of us, access to good quality outdoor space is an important part of our daily lives. If you are looking for a house, one of the key selling features for you may be the size, quality, and shape of the garden.

Consider the amount of time you wish to spend in your new garden and how much upkeep it will require compared to how much you are realistically willing to put into it.

A garden may not be necessary for all buyers or renters, however, and you may be more focused on exploring the area for any public parks or allotments to inject that boost of nature into your routine.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The number of bedrooms and bathrooms you require in your home will depend on factors such as how many people will be living in the property and how often you intend to have guests over to stay.

The size of the rooms is also an important thing to consider, particularly when it comes to bedrooms. Do you want a master bedroom that is larger than the others, or are you happy with a few smaller rooms? It is important to decide how you are going to work with the space and make your furniture fit before settling on a new property.

Storage Space

The amount of storage space we are going to need is something that often gets overlooked when searching for a property, but it is of vital importance in securing a comfortable and good quality standard of daily living in our homes.

Some properties will come equipped with storage areas such as built-in wardrobes and cupboards or even attic space. However, not all homes will have this ready prepared, so it will then be down to you to figure out a plan for the space and how you can utilise it for storage and keeping your home looking clean and tidy.

Electrical and Plumbing Quality

So you have visited a property that feels like your dream home – it is a great size, in a perfect location, and has all of the amenities that you need. What could be worse than moving in just to discover that the electrical wiring is not up to standard or the plumbing is inadequately installed?

To avoid this disaster from occurring, you are going to want to carefully inspect both systems when you are doing your initial checks on the property, especially if it is an older building. Flicking on the light switches, turning on the taps, flushing the toilet, and checking that all cupboards and sinks are dry are sensible precautionary measures to take to ensure that you aren't going to be hit with costly repair work later down the line.

Energy Efficiency

Homeownership comes with many costs, and if you are looking to buy a property, it is of value to plan for the future and carefully assess how much you will need to be spending on heating and utilities.

Investigating the type of heating, insulation, hot water tank, and window efficiency are all ways that you could potentially save on energy costs once living in your new home. It may also be important to you to look for a home with more eco-friendly energy sources such as solar panels.

Council Tax Rates

On top of your utility bills, you will likely be paying council tax on your new home, and how much you pay will depend on the area that you move to and the banding of the property.

Information on the property band should be included in the listing, but if not, this is a question that is definitely worth asking to make sure that you have enough monthly income to cover all of the necessary costs.

THOMAS GOODMAN

Thomas Goodman has worked as a property and construction expert for MyJobQuote for six years and has worked in the construction industry for over twenty years. Thomas continues to work on building projects while providing expert construction and property advice to industry professionals and DIY enthusiasts.

MyJobQuote is one of the UK's top trades matching sites that helps individuals find a reputable tradesperson in their local area.

MyJobQuote also has a wide range of experts with extensive knowledge in interior design, cleaning, gardening, property, construction and more. MyJobQuote's experts have been featured in over 700 publications, including Woman and Home, The Times, House Beautiful, BBC News and more.