At what point should I seriously start looking?

RandomDan

My property has just gone on the market and is now on Rightmove. Have spoken with a martgage broker and have a figure agreed for what I can borrow. I have not had any viewings or any indication of popularity for my property yet as it only went up today.

At what point should I start to view properties for myself? Would EAs take me seriously at this stage or should I wait until I have had an offer?

I have only been looking on Rightmove at this stage and so far in the last week 2 properties on my shortlist have been taken down as they have gone under offer, so it looks like things are moving quickly in my neck of the woods (Surrey). If I view now and get attached to a property it might well go before I am in a position to proceed.

I am a first time seller (second time buyer) so I have never gone through the selling process before.

Daisy70

You'd be in a stronger position to move quickly on a property once you were under offer so my advice would be to wait.

There's nothing wrong with doing a bit of research in the meantime and do as you have been doing, ie compiling a shortlist of properties you like.

You're unlikely to be accepted without an offer for your property unfortunately.

ETA, you could start registering with EA's, they can let you know when properties are about to come on the market.

giddypenguin

We starting viewing as soon as our house went on market - which was a MASSIVE mistake - just meant we got frustrated as we found a load of houses we really liked, but we're in no position to do anything about it.
EA's were very happy to show us around - there were a few houses who stipulated that we had to be 'procede-able', which makes sense.
I would say wait until you have an offer, then look - but certainly have a look about whats availible in your budget - just don't get attached!!

RandomDan

Thank you both; you confirmed my thinking. I will hang fire for a bit and stick to Rightmove for now.

I have only signed up with a couple of EAs currently so I will also make signing up with more a priority.

Fortheloveofmoney

I'm going to disagree with the above advice. We started going to open houses just before our house went on the market and then started booking appointments once we were. We started looking over 3 months ago and we've only seen a couple of houses we like. We've actually viewed in excess of 20 properties in this time.

I never expected it to take so long to find something we like. We had an offer on ours at the weekend so if we had waited until this moment I've no idea how long it would have taken to find somewhere.

There really isn't a lot of quality properties coming on in my area.

phoebe1989seb

We received a proceedable offer on our house within only two weeks of going on the market and as we were moving 200 miles away we were then thrust into a panic to find somewhere suitable (we had a very strict list of criteria to adhere to) within a very short time-frame as our buyers were being pressured to move quickly from others in the chain.....we were therefore glad that we had already taken steps to prepare a shortlist of potential houses, although we didn't view any till the offer came in.....

Good luck OP, hope you get an offer very soon

Ivana_Tinkle

Another vote for starting your search now! As a buyer, I'd find it v off-putting to be told that a vendor hadn't even started looking for their new place yet. I'd be wondering what happens if it takes them weeks to find somewhere or, worse, if they can't find anything they like and decide not to sell after all.

You don't need to get carried away - just go and have a first viewing of the properties on your shortlist, so that once you're under offer you just need one Saturday's worth of second viewings to make your final decision.

Mr_Moo_2

Depending on how active the market is in your area (in some parts not much is coming onto the market, or the same old stuff is being recycled around EA's at the same prices), and how specific your requirements are for your new place, is it worth think about renting as and when you get an offer for your place? Potentially buys you time to sell your place and buy what you want with a bit more time to spare....

sirmosh

I'd start looking online but hold off on viewings until you're getting some interest. Obviously hold off making any offers until you have a firm offer.

RandomDan

Thanks for the additional comments. I have a shortlist of 5 properties I am interested and may view a couple but won't be making any offers before receiving one on my property.

I am in no rush, nor do I have a strict list of requirements, just an extra bedroom and some outside space.

Also, I am very fortunate to have family locally who would put me up (I don't mind putting stuff into storage, I don't have much!) if I had a speedy vendor and me not having found somewhere would put them off.

I'm pretty chilled about the whole thing now after the initial wobble of "omg what do I do now?" yesterday.

paulsad

My vote ... Don't go viewing till you are under offer.