Time for a change?
If you are considering a change of location or changing the size of your property, or perhaps both then let us help you every step of the way. You may be considering whether to sell first or find somewhere to buy first. If so there are two steps you need to take; find out more about the value and demand for your existing property and also research the location you are looking to move to.
There is information about each office location we have within our branch pages but there is no substitute for picking up the phone and hearing it from the people who know it best. We also have a nationwide valuation service where we can arrange a reputable independent agent from your area to contact you so don’t worry if you’re not currently in our coverage area. Our Complete Property Service will be available to you to assist with any property related needs you will have along the way.
To arrange your free valuation, whether local or otherwise, visit our valuation page.
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STEP 1
Research by registering
If you are thinking that it is time to change locations and/or planning your last move, it is essential you do the research about the area(s) you are considering. If you register with us you can take advantage of our knowledge on the area.
The best way to get to know an area is to visit it but it maybe that you haven’t pinpointed one location and you cannot physically visit all the areas you like. The internet is a great source of information and will assist you in finding out about the area but when it comes to property and matching requirements, there is no substitute for our local property knowledge.
Whether it is by telephone, email or in person, by registering your details and requirements we will be able to part with our knowledge to assist you with finding a suitable location and later on, hopefully a suitable property.
Contact one of our branches -
STEP 2
Get an accurate valuation
As with any move, you need to establish what price you will be able to achieve for your property, not what you will ask for it but what you will end up with (hopefully they are one and the same). We can arrange this whether it’s in our area or further afield!
Having done this a few times, if not more, you will be aware of the benefits of obtaining a realistic valuation of your home. All too often people will base their move on an inflated valuation which can cause issues later in the process. It is advisable that you obtain 3 valuations, particularly if you have an unusual property.
We will always support our valuations with ‘comparable evidence’ and so we would expect other agents to do the same during the valuation to show you how they have reached their valuation. Beware of agents that do not show you how they reach their figure and there are some estate agents who may deliberately try to ‘round upwards’ to make their valuation stand out against the others. This can be a dangerous trap to fall into because, on one hand you want as much as you can for your home, on the other, you never get a second chance to make a first impression and the longer a property remains for sale, the higher the chance that either it won’t sell or you will have to reduce the price considerably to ensure that it does!
To arrange a free and accurate valuation from Bradleys, click here and we will contact you to arrange a suitable time. Should your property be out of the Bradleys office network area we can arrange for a local reputable independent estate agent to visit you.
Arrange a free and accurate valuation -
STEP 3
Check Affordability
Should you have or require a mortgage or equity release for your move, it is essential you establish your position as soon as you can.
With any existing arrangements you can either discuss it with your existing lender or seek alternative advice. The suggestion would be to shop around, our advisers are often surprised as to why people don’t shop around for their mortgages when it could save you large sums of money. A specialist adviser will know which lenders are best to consider for your individual position.
The main aspect is to ensure you have checked your affordability to confirm that your plans are achievable.
Speak to a mortgage adviser -
STEP 4
Know Your Options
A key step when preparing to move home is to understand the options available to you. Did you know that if you’re over 60 years old, you could save up to 59% on the price of your new home? Find out how you could benefit from the Home for Life Plan and secure the dream home for your future.
Moving home later in life can be difficult, especially if your affordability is limited. Researching what options are available to you will help you have a clear understanding of your moving budget and enable you to find the perfect property sooner.
The Home for Life Plan is an alternative option to a mortgage or equity release for example. It’s a lifetime lease available to those aged over 60. The Home for Life Plan is not a form of financial service, it’s simply a way for you to be able to move to the property of your choice at a discounted price.
Using the plan can open up more options within your search and you could discover your dream home is now within your affordability! You pay a one-off discounted price to live in your new home rent-free, mortgage-free and without any interest repayments for your lifetime.
The discount available to you is bespoke to your circumstances, so speak with our team to learn all about the Home for Life Plan and find out how you could achieve more for your money.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOME FOR LIFE PLAN -
STEP 5
Actively start viewing potential properties
Don’t hold back with viewing properties! You need to know what may be suitable for you and we will be pleased to meet you and show you around any of our properties.
Viewings can be arranged by email, telephone or by visiting one of our offices. Don’t hold back in viewing a property, if you feel there is a chance a property could be right for you then go ahead and ask to arrange a viewing. We like to show potential buyers around a house, so that we can be on hand to answer any questions and also help you feel more comfortable in someone else’s home, which can be a little unnerving. Unfortunately we cannot always be present we will certainly try to be where possible.
We will try to provide you with as much useful information as we can however, we cannot be sure of what is important to you so we would love to help you by answering any queries you may have. If we don’t know the answer we will endeavour to try and find out.
Following each viewing, we will contact you to find out what you thought and in turn be able to tell the sellers of your feedback. Please be honest, not everyone will like every house they view but there could be some useful details that could help us and/or the seller change something that will help sell the property. You never know, those changes could make you want to buy the property after all!
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STEP 6
Make an offer on the property you like
You have found the dream home so why not make an offer? You must remember what is affordable to you and combine this with what you feel the property is worth to you, together this should provide a reasonable offer.
When making an offer you are declaring your interest in a property for the sellers to consider. If you would like your mortgage advisor or someone else to put the offer forward on your behalf, they can do so and ensure the offer is put forward in the best light with all the necessary information.
The focus is to ensure you are meeting the objectives of your overall move. It is not to say price isn’t important but sometimes the whole picture must be considered and so if you like the property, don’t risk losing it.
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STEP 7
Purchase agreed
Ensure you instruct your conveyancer to go ahead by completing any paperwork and returning it as soon as you can and providing them with any necessary monies they require.
It is essential to make sure you get things moving on your purchase quickly to show the sellers you are committed. Check the timescales you have discussed and ensure all parties are aware of these (they will be included on the sales memoranda issued by us but it is worth highlighting it).
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STEP 8
Do I need a Survey?
Depending on the age and style of the property you are buying you should consider having a Homebuyers Report or Building Survey carried out to protect your investment. It is very little money to spend in relation to the amount you are paying for a property.
A RICS (Registered Institute of Chartered Surveyors) qualified surveyor will be able to advise you accordingly as to what level of survey the property may require.
You can instruct an independent RICS surveyor to carry out a survey and we would advise if you are to have one, do so at an early stage, this way if there are any issues (hopefully not) you can address them before progressing your purchase too far.
For more details you can request a call from our survey team and they will confirm the most suitable type of survey for the property you are buying and provide you with details as to the varying costs. For more general information you can visit www.bradleyssurveyors.co.uk
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STEP 9
Keeping informed
The conveyancer along with ourselves, will keep you informed of each aspect of your purchase. If you are unsure about any aspect of the process, simply ask the relevant person to explain it to you.
The reason you may have had a stressful move previously is likely to be due to a lack of communication. There are various parties all working away doing their job for their client and all too often they forget to actually communicate what they are doing or what the latest position is. We try to counter that by providing a case tracking service via our recommended law firms and also by contacting each party on a weekly basis (at least) to provide an update.
At this stage we can review the dates that were agreed at the outset and check they are still on course to be achieved, or if required, revise the dates and communicate them to all involved.
Whether it is the conveyancer, mortgage adviser, estate agents in the chain, surveyor or even you/your partner that needs to be communicated to, we will try to keep it all moving in the right direction but all parties involved must do their bit too!
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STEP 10
Home Insurance
You will have had home insurance on your last property but it is very likely that the next property will be different and so it is wise to check the position with your new home and line up a policy in anticipation for exchanging contracts.
This may seem a little early but being prepared is only going to help the whole process run smoothly. Each property is different in the eyes of an insurance company and so do not assume that as your current property is easy/cheap to insure, that your next one will be the same.
Insurers will differ in opinion as to what warrants a premium on a policy and these can often come in and out of fashion at any one time. To check this out simply obtain a quote on the buildings and contents for your next home at an early stage. If there are any concerns such as flooding or premiums to consider such as thatched roofs then you will become aware at the outset.
Obtain a quote -
STEP 9
Exchanging Contracts
You will have agreed on a moving date that suits all parties and signed contracts on your purchase, so it’s time to legally bind the transactions and exchange the contracts.
Hopefully you will have experienced a hassle free transaction with very few, if any, delays with your purchase and with all parties having been kept informed of developments throughout the transaction. We will have been liaising with all parties about completion dates and, as you may recall, a date must be agreed before an exchange of contracts can take place.
Your conveyancer will call you before going ahead and exchanging to confirm you are happy to do so and confirm the date and then call you after exchange of contracts has taken place.
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STEP 12
Completion
Once your conveyancer has sent your monies for your new home they will have to be received by the seller’s solicitor who will then inform us that we can give the keys to you!
On the day of completion your conveyancer will ring you to confirm they have sent the remainder of the house purchase monies to the sellers’ solicitor and that you should wait for a phone call from us (or the estate agent you are buying through) to confirm you are able to collect the keys. There is often a delay between the two events happening of an hour or so which is normal so don’t panic if you don’t hear immediately. Once the monies have been received, you have officially purchased your new home, congratulations! Usually you will collect the keys from the estate agents office but if you are unable to collect them in person then inform the estate agents beforehand of who will be collecting them and ensure that person has identification.
Congratulations you have moved!
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