Finding the right property
Start with the things you cannot change location, journey to work, schools where relevant, transport, surroundings and the character of the area. Then consider the property itself. It is often better to compromise on decoration or fittings than on a location that does not suit your lifestyle.
Look at current school information, admissions criteria and catchment arrangements rather than relying solely on proximity. Visit schools where possible and remember that admissions policies and catchment patterns can change from year to year.
Your solicitor’s searches may reveal relevant planning matters, but you can also check the local authority planning portal before making an offer. If nearby land looks capable of development, ask questions early rather than assuming the outlook will remain unchanged.
Yes, this is critically important if you want to see the whole market. Portals are useful, but many agents now market properties directly to their database before considering an upload to the portals. Also, some sellers prefer their properties not to be seen on the portals at all.
Ashtons currently receives over 300 buyer enquiries every month from properties that are not listed on the portals. These are properties where we've been able to introduce the property to a buyer through discreet marketing or via our Sneak Peek web page, which buyers can register for.
Often, yes. Sellers sometimes want an initial period of discreet marketing, and agents may contact registered buyers before photography and portal advertising are complete. Make sure your agent understands exactly what you are looking for and how ready you are to move. You can also ask to join our "Sneak Peek" mailing list for exactly this reason. Sneak Peek properties change every week, and there are often up to 20 to choose from at any one time across different price ranges throughout Hertfordshire and parts of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Be clear about your genuine essentials but avoid making the brief so rigid that you miss good opportunities. Buyers frequently purchase something different from what they initially imagined. Separate your “must-haves” from features you would merely prefer.
Sometimes. There may be room for negotiation, but do not build your search around the assumption that every seller will accept substantially less. Your agent can advise whether a property is realistically within reach before you invest time viewing it.
Yes, if it satisfies your important priorities. Photographs and descriptions cannot fully convey outlook, atmosphere, room proportions or the feel of a location. A property that looks imperfect online can be surprisingly right in person.
Look at recent comparable sales, competing properties and the property’s condition, position and individual features. Asking prices are marketing figures rather than guarantees of value, so local knowledge and evidence are more useful than a simple price-per-square-foot comparison.
