Should we start now?

J3OEF

to look around and view houses that we are interested in?

We are saving towards out deposit and should have the required amount by end of august so do we start looking now and making offers are should we wait?

We have had a chat with a financial advisor and been told how much we can get etc

If we have our heart set on moving somewhere by sept/oct should we start now?

J3OEF

anyone????

drummer_666

well you could look now,

but if you find the perfect house, you'll have to wait til june ish and hope it's still not sold and make an offer

but then i've been looking since start or jan and only just had an offer accepted on a house. put offers on two different houses and didn't get and then took ages to find another suitable house.

If i was you and I def didn't have the money until August, then I'd start looking around June.

Beckyy

I would keep an eye on the local market in the area you want to move to, but wouldn't consider putting an offer in until you actually have the money and mortgage in principle ready. It's setting yourself up for heartache if you find you're perfect house and can't buy it.

Good luck!

Sagz_2

You could start looking at Rightmove and get a 'feel' for the house that are on the market in your area.

I didn't actually start looking at houses until I was in a position to make an offer.

J3OEF

thanks for the replys guys.

We are pretty sure on an area we want to move too, we know our budget, know what our deposit will need to be and potential fees thus why we wont have it till end of august.

We have seen a couple of houses recently, 1 which has been for sale for a year and has dropped 10k in a couple of months. But like ppl have pointed out, we aint going to have our heart set on anything until we have things in place.

Just curious as to what a rough time scale was in terms of looking, going to view it, then making an offer and giving deposits etc. Have seen other threads where some have had it done it 28 days, others 5+ months.

cattie

As mentioned here, no good actually viewing an properties until you are in a position to make an offer. In the meantime, keep your eye on the market.

Regarding your query re timescales, in can depend on various factors such as whether there is a chain involved or not. If no chain or a brand new property, then it could be a matter of a few weeks. But in my experience of selling to FTB and having no chain above, it has always averaged out at around 12-14 weeks from offer to completion.

niceguyed

Actually, I'd disagree with the above, although you won't be in a position to make an offer I think making viewings is essential in helping to determine what you are after. All well and good looking on rightmove and having discussions but viewings have a habit of helping you refine further or even completely changing your mind on what you want.
With the market as it is, a house you like could well be still for sale 6-12 months.
I can't see any downsides in beginning early apart from finding a house you love and not being able to proceed. Probably best not to go mad but a couple of viewings every spare weekend is worthwhile IMO.

moneypuddle

I wouldn't start looking until you're in the position to put an offer in. Its a waste of your own and vendors time. Research yes. Viewings no.

niceguyed

moneypuddle wrote: »

I wouldn't start looking until you're in the position to put an offer in. Its a waste of your own and vendors time. Research yes. Viewings no.

You could argue those needing to sell but putting in offers are wasting peoples time. When I was selling I had loads of viewings from potential buyers that were not exactly proceedable. Its the nature of the game. Yes it could be a waste of the vendors time but if in Aug that house is still on the market and the OP can proceed what is it then?

I don't see how getting a feel for different houses/areas can be classed as wasteful.

moneypuddle

niceguyed wrote: »

You could argue those needing to sell but putting in offers are wasting peoples time..

Yeah I do agree with that too. I've found from my own experience that accepting an offer from someone who is not proceedable can be a waste of time, and can raise up hopes for both the buyer and seller. It can be a really emotional rollercoaster buying a house and in my opinion (which is what the OP asked for), its best not to bother properly looking until you are in a position to proceed yeah.