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When you are looking to buy a house, it’s not just the money you have to think about. There are lots of other aspects of a house move that are important to prepare in advance, to keep you both organized, and to ensure that you are ready to do so. Here are some top tips to help you prepare for buying a house. 

#1 Review your current situation

It is important to think about your current position. If you live with a friend or family, then the process will be extremely simple for you, especially when it comes to unpacking. However, if you are renting a property, or already own a property, you will have more to think about. If you rent a house, you will need to consider the time that you have until the end of your contract and whether you will choose to wait this out, or see if you can come out of it early for a small fee. You will also need to consider what you will do if there is a gap between your tenancy ending, and waiting to get into your new home. If you own a property, you will likely exchange contracts at the same time as you buy and sell, so that the moving process is much simpler. The only complex thing with owning a property is waiting for an offer, and considering how much equity you have in the home that you wish to move across to your new place, and how much of a mortgage you wish to apply for. Alternatively, you may wish to rent out your property, and invest in a second, in which case, time may not matter as much. Your current situation, and your goals, will impact whether you are ready to start house hunting or not. 

#2 Agree your budget 

Once you have decided that you are in a position to move house, the next important step before house hunting is to agree on a budget. The amount you can afford should include a range of different factors, not just the price of the property. When you buy a new home, you have to invest in a real estate agent to help you conduct property searches, you can get it from here. You will also need to invest in an attorney to help with the legal process, a mortgage broker to assist with finances, as well as all the start-up costs involved with your property, such as setting up the utilities, furnishing the home, and any renovations you wish to make. 

#3 Decide where you want to live 

It can help you prepare for the house hunt if you know approximately where you would like to live. Think about all the features and amenities that you want close to your location, for example, do you want it close to a good school, a leisure center, a gym, your office, nice walks in nature, public transport, etc? This will help you while you search, as it can significantly narrow it down and save you a lot of time. 

There are a lot of things to think about when moving house. These tips will help you better prepare for your move.