Read practical tips to help you feel less stressed when buying a house, including at least one secret weapon to make the process more zen.
Buying a house is exciting, and the beginning of a new chapter. It is a milestone that means all kinds of opportunities, including making new friends, finding new favourite places, and making new memories in a new place. However, amidst all the great aspects of this change, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that will inevitably come along.
Over 75,000 people buy a house in the UK every year, and 37% say they have found buying a home one of the most stressful events they have experienced. More so than job seeking, planning a wedding and even starting a family. Understanding that this process will be stressful, and ensuring you have different ways to help reduce and manage that stress, is essential to ensure you have a smooth transition into your new home. Let’s take a closer look at how to handle the stress of buying a house:
Getting Started
To get your stress-free house-buying journey started, set a clear budget and take time to list what your house-buying needs are. Understanding exactly what you can afford and what you need in a home is a really great start to this challenging process. Additionally, researching the housing market in your preferred location is really helpful as you get a good idea of what is available, prices and other factors, which can help reduce stress and help you feel more in control of your journey.
Organising Your Finances
Managing your finances is such an important part of the house-buying process. It can be stressful saving for a deposit, but having a budget for the purchase and the moving process can help limit the reach of that stress. Consider speaking to a mortgage advisor, or financial advisor, and they can help provide expertise to help reduce the worry of dealing with the unknown.
Estate Agents Know A Lot
Estate agents are not only there to sell your property, they also have lots of helpful tips and tricks to help make the process less stressful for you. They can simplify the process of selling your house and buying a new property, dealing with the paperwork, offering helpful tips and contacting you about potential houses you could be interested in. They are especially helpful if you are moving to an area you don’t know. They are experts in property in that area, so they can give you all the best insider advice on different roads, pros and cons of different areas, and let you know what is on offer for your budget.
Self Storage Is Your Friend
One underestimated way of minimising stress when buying a house is self storage. Local self storage cuts the moving process stress right down by offering you a safe haven for your belongings. This can be used when you clear your house out for viewings, when you redecorate or renovate your new place, and as a middle ground as you move between properties. It is also helpful if you declutter but don’t have time to sort out the items you have decluttered until after the move.
It’s a really helpful extra service to use for organisation at a time when everything can feel so disorganised and chaotic.
Dealing With Paperwork
Paperwork when buying a house is so stressful. So many documents to look over and sign and respond to, it can be very overwhelming. Luckily, if you have good solicitors then you have a really good chance of having most of that managed for you. They should be taking all the information from the paperwork and only speaking to you about things you need to know. They should be working with the other party’s agents in the background, so that everything is taken care of legally. This is why it is so important to take time at the beginning of the house-buying process to hire a solicitor you like and who is qualified to do a great job.
Home Inspections – Tense But Important
Home inspections can be tense, because you never really know if the report will cause issues in the purchase or not. However, having them done does remove the stress of the unknown. With reports you can be assured you are spending your money on something that is, as far as is reasonable to assume, in great condition. Or, if there are issues, you can purchase knowingly.
Stress Management Matters
Recognising that the process of buying is going to be stressful is really important. Rather than just focusing on how to avoid and reduce the stress, it is important to acknowledge it and to have coping mechanisms in place for when things feel too much. This could include the following:
- Taking time out alone or with friends and family
- Asking your employer for flexible time options throughout the moving process
- Seeking support from talking therapies to vent
- Eating well
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Acknowledging that stress is normal and it won’t be forever
- Exercising to help with stress release
- Spending time in nature regularly
Staying Prepared
When you buy a house, preparing for moving day can be incredibly stressful. So much to pack and organise, even the most relaxed person can begin to feel the pressure. The key to keeping stress levels down is to be more organised than you ever have before. Book removals companies sooner rather than later. Pack as early as you can and have a central checklist that you can continually update and refer to. This degree of control over the process when so much is out of control, will help to keep your stress levels down.
You Can Find Your Path To Serenity During This Exciting Chapter
Buying a house and moving can be very stressful, but if you are prepared and follow the tips above, there is every reason that you can avoid becoming too overwhelmed by the strains of the process. Happy house hunting!