Our tips for families upsizing
Are you feeling the squeeze in your current living space? Perhaps your family is expanding, or you simply need more room to spread out and enjoy life. Whatever the reason, upsizing your home should be an exciting experience. Here’s our top tips to help families navigate the upsizing journey smoothly.
1. Assess Your Financial Situation and Secure Mortgage Advice ASAP
Before diving into the upsizing process, it's crucial to evaluate your financial situation carefully. Determine how much you can afford to spend on a new property and calculate potential monthly mortgage payments. Consult with a financial advisor or independent mortgage broker to explore your borrowing options. Understanding your budget from the outset will help your search. You don’t want to over expose yourself and then not be able to ‘enjoy’ your new home! Or, find the perfect home you can't afford.
2. Research School Catchment Areas
For families with school-aged children, proximity to quality schools can be a priority. Research school catchment areas in your preferred location to ensure it offers the best choice of schools for your family. Keep in mind that school catchment areas can impact property prices and demand, so it's wise to factor this into your housing search. Most property portals will include details of local schools in the area with a distance from the school, as well as Ofsted ratings.
3. Get Your Property Ready
Before listing your current home, take the time to spruce it up and make necessary repairs or renovations. Decluttering, freshening up paint, and enhancing curb appeal can boost your property's market value and attract potential buyers.
4. Arrange a Property Valuation
Get a professional estate agent to your home to provide an accurate property valuation. Whilst you can get instant valuations on line bear in mind that the housing market comprises numerous local markets, each with its unique supply and demand dynamics. Gravesham in particular has a variety of local markets. We would therefore encourage anyone considering a move to have a face-to-face appointment, if time allows, undertaken by a professional, with knowledge of the market and your property’s unique location rather than make life decisions on the basis of a computer algorithms.
5. Think About Solicitors
Appointing the wrong solicitor can cost you dearly! The legal aspects of buying and selling property can be complex, so it's essential to instruct the services of a reputable solicitor or conveyancer (we can recommend a solicitor and provide a quote at the start of your journey so you can build build this into your cost of moving calculator). Remember you do get what you pay for – the cheapest online conveyancer may take double the time and will likely be a nightmare to get hold of.
6. Register with Local Agents in your Chosen Area
Make contact with the local estate agents that cover the area you wish to move to. A decent agent will help you access exclusive listings and arrange viewings of suitable properties that match your needs.
If you have any questions or you think you may be ready for the next step please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to help you on the next step of your property journey.
You can access our property valuation service by clicking here: Request a Valuation | M&M Estate & Letting Agents (mandmprop.co.uk)