Fall in love with your future home: How to find ‘the one’

You know the fairy-tale scenario – your eyes meet across a crowded room and boom! You instantly know they’re ‘the one’. It’s love at first sight and you are well and truly smitten.
The same can happen with a property when you’re house hunting but a property investment requires a little more headspace than just that initial endorphin high. Here’s how to fall in love with your future home by finding ‘the one’ and, more importantly, how to make it last.
Do your research
Research is going to be crucial. Scope out the area to check if it offers what you need. Speak to local agents and research properties similar to what you are looking for and see and note the prices. Remember that if you really do fall in love, you’ll want to do anything to secure the property of your dreams. That could include paying over the odds, so be careful not to get carried away. Remember that the purchase price is before the added extras of moving costs and professional fees.
Be clear about what you want
Being clear about what you want from a relationship can help you find your perfect partner. Love the outdoors and want to share adventures with someone? That’s a quality to add to the checklist. The same is true when looking for your perfect property. Are you after a period property or something with a more modern feel? A family home or a party pad? Nail down basic needs such as the number of bathrooms and bedrooms and whether you might need a garden or a home office.
Be realistic about what you need
We don’t want to put a downer on that heady falling-in-love moment but it’s important not to let your heart rule your head. Does it really tick the checklist of what you need and is it in or close to your budget? Are there areas that you can compromise on if needed? If not, then you may need to step back and think again no matter how strong the attraction is.
Use the experts
We may need a little extra help from dating apps or our friends to find our soulmate, so use any networks you can when looking for your property, too. Befriend agents for advice and guidance and scan the Home Report they’ll provide you with carefully. Eager to know what an area is really like? Pop in for a coffee at the local café and have a chat with some locals. Want to know if the schools are up to scratch? Just ask.
Listen to your gut
We all have a gut instinct, and when it comes to falling in love it’s easy to ignore it. Your head might be telling you one thing and your heart another. But gut instinct can be a powerful thing. If a property really does seem like ‘the one’ but it’s the first you’ve looked at, it may not sound logical but as long as you can back up your gut instinct with fact, you may have struck lucky.