Page 26 - ESPC_May24

PROPERTY ADVICE EXPERT ADVICE

Lock down a location
The location of your forever home is arguably
the most important component – after all, you
can change almost anything about a property,
but you can’t change where it is. When you’re The location of your
thinking of staying in a property for decades, the forever home is arguably Strategic
location becomes of even greater importance.
the most important
You might already be sure of where your forever
home should be, but if it’s a more expensive component.
area, you may need to go back to the first step
and reconsider your must-haves. thinking

Do your research: head to espc.com and check
out our monthly House Price Reports to find out
what’s been happening in your preferred locale
or speak to your local solicitor estate agent to Get viewing!
understand how the local market is behaving. Once you’ve got your finances in place and you
know what you’re hoping to find, it’s time to get
If you’re flexible with your location, then it’s on to espc.com and begin your search.
good to look at those hypotheticals again, and
quiz yourself on every eventuality to make sure Viewing in person is key – try not to discount a
that it will work in the longer term. This includes property based on its pictures if it, on paper, has
considering the local school catchment area everything you’ve been searching for. Nothing
(even if you don’t have children just yet), as well is a substitute for visiting a property in person; ESPC’s CEO, Paul Hilton, shares with us why you should price your
as the proximity of amenities and green spaces you might get ‘the feeling’ from your first step property modestly.
nearby that make daily life smoother. Searching in the door.
for a home on espc.com means you can filter by
school catchment and see the properties that When you find a property that you’re keen on,
are for sale near your preferred school, which speak to a solicitor estate agent to get advice hen it comes to selling your property, sometimes not result in a true comparison. This
can be an invaluable tool for family buyers. about the area and the strategy you should you’ll likely already have a figure in is why it’s so important to trust your solicitor
follow to try and secure it. It’s always worth Wmind you’d like to market your home estate agent when it comes to setting the price
Consider the commuting time and expense too; making an offer if you’re seriously interested, at – drawn from online sales data, news stories for your property.
a long-term home needs to be as practical as even if you think your chances are small – you on the property market, or perhaps what your
it is picturesque, and convenience (and cost- never know what other bidders will offer, and neighbour sold for six months ago. Even Home Report valuations can fall foul
effectiveness) when it comes to your daily even if your offer isn’t the highest, you could be of this. The asking price tends to be a few
commute can’t be underestimated. in the best position to proceed.
Of course, we all want to sell for as much as thousand pounds either side of the Home
we can, especially if we intend to purchase Report valuation, with sellers expecting
Where do your friends and family live? Do you When you’re offering on a ‘forever’ home, an upgraded onward home, but I believe that to achieve above that. But Home Report
want to live close by, or is it a bigger priority to there’s less pressure to think about the resale there’s cause for pricing your property more valuations themselves can set unrealistic
live in a particular area, such as by the beach or value or how quickly a house can recover conservatively, to achieve better results overall. expectations. For instance, if you are selling
in the countryside? All of these things are much equity as there would be when purchasing a your home in January, a Home Report surveyor
more important when you’re planning to stay in a shorter-term property, which can help you feel The adage is true – a property is only worth what may be looking at what houses sold for six
property for the longer term, as a larger distance more comfortable in your offer if you know the someone is willing to pay for it. Every property months prior, in the peak season, to set your
may mean bigger compromises in the future. property has a long time to appreciate in value. sale is unique, and circumstances change so property’s value, starting you at an inflated, and
quickly that comparing similar properties can potentially unattainable figure.
Ready to start your search for your forever home? Head to espc.com today!
26 | espc.com espc.com | 27