START THE HOUSE-HUNTING
Many first time buyers make the mistake of only working with one estate agent, believing they can cut costs by doing so. However, this is a false economy as you will find it difficult to find your ideal property without any competition from other buyers.
You should contact more than one local agency and describe what kind of property you require. Some agents will send you a fresh list of properties every day or so, others may email you weekly updates. Moreover, some estate agents will offer a house-viewing service for those that do not have the time to view all those properties themselves. If you register with several agencies and tell them about your specific requirements, then they should keep all such information in one place. They will be able to tailor their services to your personal needs and you can also compare one agency against another when looking at the details of each property they send you.
There is no obligation on you to go ahead with an estate agent who sends you information, but it does make sense for you to register with several agents to ensure you get information on all suitable homes.
Looking for your perfect home can be a long process, but it is important to keep up morale. Make sure the right house comes along at the right time with the best possible deal and don't rush into anything without doing all your research or you could end up paying over the odds for a property you do not want.
If you are struggling to find somewhere in a specific postcode try broadening your search to encourage more results. For example, if you are looking for a two-bedroom terraced house in LE5 and find nothing after a month it might be time to broaden your search and look at houses just outside this postcode.
