The process can be very daunting and so to assist in that most difficult of decision, we have prepared a guide to help you to remember all those little things. 

• Write a list for what you are looking for in your new home and then put a priority against each one - you can then compare each house you look at against this
• Make a checklist of all the key things you need to find out about any house you go to view.
• See a Mortgage broker or financial adviser and obtain a mortgage in principal. Then you know what you can afford and what properties you can’t. Plus when you find one you want to put an offer on, it gives your offer more credibility when the seller is looking at which offer to accept
• Don't stretch yourself too far on your mortgage so that you will struggle to make the repayments - remember that whilst it may be affordable now, this might not always be the case
• Consider carefully the type of survey to have done when buying a house, especially one which is several years old. Saving a few pounds by getting a bare minimum valuation can cost you later
• When buying a new home, check out the area you're looking to move to – check our list of links to see sites which provide information on crime rates, schooling & pollution etc
• Check out aerial photos of the home you're interested in - this can tell you a lot more about the surrounding area than you can see at ground level!
• Make sure you find out everything about the history of the house you're looking at - history of flooding or subsidence is very important.
• Make sure you know about all the fees you will need to pay to solicitors, estate agents, removal firms, surveyors etc., - add a contingency on top of whatever you budget - it pretty much always costs more than you think! Don’t be afraid to shop around either, you will be surprised what can save.
• Spend some time to properly plan your move - it is a complex and stressful project but making sure you've got everything covered can make it easier.
• Shop around for your home insurance - tying everything in with your mortgage may seem the easiest thing to do but sometimes it can cost you more
• Take the chance to review your utility suppliers when moving - tying in several of your services with one supplier could save you some money
• If your new home hasn't got good locks or an alarm, take some time to consider what you can do to make it safer before you start on any extensive home improvement programmes