Ways and means of a stress-free move

Moving house is up there with divorce and bereavement when it comes to life's most stressful events and the longer your sale or purchase drags on, the worst things get. But as this year's home-moving season really gets underway, there are some measures you can take to make the process as seamless as possible.

The first and perhaps most pivotal point is to be be realistc from the outset. Before you even start looking at properties, work out how much you can afford. To get the best mortgage deals you will need a deposit and an income that will satisfy lenders that you can afford monthly repayments. A mortgage broker or independent financial adviser can also assist with this.

A mortgage agreement in principle can also help your cause. This is an agreement from a mortgage lender that, hypothetically, they will lend you a certain amount of money. Having it in writing that you are good for a mortgage will help get vendors to take you seriously when putting in an offer.

Keeping proactive when it comes to professionals in the buying and selling process is also crucial. Call estate agents regularly and ask them to contact you the moment a suitable property comes on the market. If you're selling, signing up with an estate agent will mean they should do the legwork for you finding potential buyers, showing them round and chasing up solicitors. However, a few calls into the solicitor or property lawyer yourself would not go amiss either as these professionals are hardly renowed for their sense of urgency.

READ MORE: 10 steps to a stress-free move

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2007-06-08 16:02:47 © Moneyextra.com