Thinking about moving home? Whether you’re moving to a rental property or buying a new place, here are some of the people you may need to hire to help you along the way.
Agents/real estate brokers
Most people looking for a property go through an agent or real estate broker. If you’re selling or renting a property, you may also pay an agent to help market the property for you and handle viewings. Agents generally only charge a fee to the seller and not to the buyer. When it comes to renting properties through an agency, an agent may also charge a service fee. You don’t have to rent through an agency and can rent directly through a landlord, although an agency is likely to offer more security.
There are high street brokers, useful for providing local knowledge on properties, and online brokers who may simply list properties. In all cases, it’s worth asking about any fees upfront as many agents may only tell you about these once you’ve committed to working with them.
It’s possible to sell and buy a property without an agent. You can save money this way, although it’s likely to be a harder process. This site offers information on how to market your property without an agent.
Mortgage advisors/lenders
If you’re buying a property, you’ll most likely need to take out a mortgage. There are plenty of mortgage lenders out there, all charging different interest rates and all asking for different deposits. To find the best mortgage deal, many people hire an advisor or mortgage broker. These professionals may have access to special deals commonly not found on the market, although they’re likely to charge a commission on top for using their services.
Surveyors
Surveyors are useful when buying a property for locating any possible signs of damage to the building that may result in future costs. They can help to prevent you from buying a property which could cost thousands in repairs at a later stage, and so can save you money.
Solicitors
If you’re buying a property, you’ll also need to hire a solicitor known as a conveyancer. These professionals can help handle the legal paperwork required to carry out the change of ownership. Conveyancers charge a small fee for their services.
Moving companies
Moving companies can help to transport your possessions from one property to another. This could be needed in cases where a lot of items need to be moved and carefully handled. You can find information on such companies here. When only moving a small amount of possessions, you may be able to get away with simply buying a van and doing it yourself. Shipping companies may be needed for overseas moves.
Cleaners
You may need to clean your old property. Many agents will fine you for not doing this, whilst landlords may refuse to give you your deposit back for not cleaning a property after leaving it. You can handle cleaning yourself, although many people choose to save the hassle and hire a cleaning service to do it for them.
XOXO
Debbie
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